GOV DICKSON URGES FG TO CANCEL RUGA POLICY

...SAYS IT IS PROVOCATIVE, DIVISIVE, UNHELPFUL

By Tony Okechukwu

The Governor òf Bayelsa State, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, has urged the Federal Government to cancel the controversial RUGA policy.

The Governor said that the policy of RUGA settlement was inimical to national unity and cohesion describing it as provocative, divisive and unhelpful.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, on Thursday, quoted the Governor as having made the comment while speaking on the first day of the interdenominational prayer and fasting service for the 2019 Gubernatorial election in the state on Wednesday night.

He said that Bayelsa under his leadership would not give out any inch of its territory for the establishment of any such RUGA settlement as proposed by the Federal Government.

He stressed that any move to grab land in the state for the purpose of building RUGA settlement would be challenged.

He suggested that those involved in cattle business should be encouraged to go into ranching rather the RUGA settlement arrangement.

He said, “I said it some days ago and I'm saying again that Bayelsa will not be a part of RUGA. That is a most provocative, divisive and unhelpful policy. We call for the immediate cancellation of that policy.

“Under me as leader of this state,  Bayelsa will not have even an inch of land available for any RUGA settlement. It will not be allowed and will be challenged.

“People should be encouraged to go into ranching as a business and not be moving around causing problems and mayhem. That's what we will support, not RUGA settlements. Do we have Ijaw fishermen settlements in other states?”

The Governor said that the next governor òf the state should be a person of courage, who should be able to speak out on critical issues affecting the state

He stressed that anybody aspiring to occupy the office of Governor òf Bayelsa State should be able to speak out, say the bitter truth on critical issues irrespective of those involved.

The Governor explained that the state decided to organise the  prayer and fasting programme to seek the face of God in the process of selecting the next leader because of the enormous influence of the office and the need for the right person to succeed him.

He restated his calls on Bayelsans to prevent the emergence of any governor who could use political appointments to lure the people to cultism  and other evil practices.

He said that he had led to state in the direction of God as shown clearly by the fact that he did not lure any of the about 1500 political appointees into occult practices as was the case with some people.

“This transition is not about me. So many people in my shoes will be relaxing but we are still work from morning till night. This transition is about our state, about our people, about Christians possessing their possession. We have made a lot of progress. We want good committed, patriotic, decisive but compassionate leaders.

“My prayer is that the person God will raise for us will do better than me, that person will not fail. The way I  have worked for our people, defended their interest, spoken on behalf of the people.” He added

The Governor lamented the attitude of the political class some of who would even react with  bitterness when universities, an airport, good roads, health facilities and key developmental projects are built in the state.

He lamented that Bayelsa was the only state where a governor had not completed eight years to hand over to a successor.