Protecting Bayelsa: Diri's Unwavering Stance on Security Priorities

Alerts misbehaving chiefs to disputes within the Nembe community.
According to Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, his administration would always uphold the Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution's guarantee of individual rights while making sure that the state's current peace and security are maintained.

At yesterday's 158th State Executive Council meeting, held at Government House in Yenagoa, Diri made this statement.

The governor clarified that the government will not prohibit any group from organizing rallies within the state, highlighting that doing so would be foolish and ineffective at a time when Rivers State's political crisis is being addressed with a sustainable peace.

He pointed out that since Rivers and Bayelsa are sister states, anything that occurred in Rivers affected Bayelsa. As a result, Diri urged well-meaning Bayelsans to cooperate with the administration in order to keep the state law and order.

He said: "I want to clarify this. Our government does not violate the rule of law. We value and uphold the Federal Republic of Nigeria's Constitution. In doing so, we uphold every provision of the Constitution.


Rivers State has been placed under a state of emergency. Bola Tinubu, the president, has the authority to do so. The only thing we can do is try to find a way to make Rivers State peaceful in the long run.

The governor noted that the proper protocol for such rallies should be followed by first informing the state government, just as the wife of the President had done before she visited the state today on the invitation of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

He urged people of the state to turn out en masse to accord the First Lady a rousing reception.

Meanwhile, while receiving the interim report of the steering committee on the resolution of the protracted crisis in the Bassambiri community in Nembe Local Council of the state, Diri warned that any errant chief not ready for peace would be disrobed.

The Chairman, Vice Admiral Victor Ombu (rtd), presented the report during the 158th session of the state executive council meeting in the Government House, Yenagoa.

The group was established six months ago on September 10, 2024, with the goal of establishing a durable and long-lasting peace in Brassambiri, according to Ombu, a former Chief of the Naval Staff.

He said the panel visited various locations to observe destroyed property, conducted interviews and received memoranda, and investigated the near and distant reasons of the community's protracted dilemma.