- Governor opposes use of force to resolve crisis
Tobi Soniyi in Abuja
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has met with President Muhammed Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja as concerns continue to mount over the destruction of facilities by militants in the Niger Delta.
Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Dickson said he came to discuss security issues in the Niger Delta with Buhari.
Dickson, who thanked Buhari for not interfering in the state election which he won on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, also extended the olive branch to his opponents in the election as he asked them to bury the hatchet and join hands with him to build the Bayelsa of their dreams.
The governor said that he was opposed to the use of force in the Niger Delta.
He said: “I came in this afternoon to have discussions with Mr. President. That is because my position has been – and I believe that is the right position every political leader should take – which is that after general elections, political leaders and citizens must unite and address common issues and find solutions to the problems of our country.
“All over the world, once nations have crisis, once nations come under attack, leaders unite across political lines and come together.
“I came in to have discussion with Mr. President and I thank him for that opportunity and we cross fertilized ideas around issues of security. Of course as you know Bayelsa is central to the maintenance of law and order and stability in our country particularly in the Niger Delta region.
“Bayelsa is the epic center of the issues that has to do with the Niger Delta. We had fruitful discussions on the need for political leaders, governmental and political leaders to work together to support the work of the security agencies and foster better understanding of even people who have grievances and that we are committed to do together.”
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