Leadership (Abuja)
Osa Okhomina
2 October 2008
Yenagoa — Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State yesterday announced that a comprehensive disarmament programme would soon be unfolded to encourage the various militant groups in the state to drop their arms and ammunition for a final peace process.
Making the disclosure in Yenagoa during a ceremony to mark 12th anniversary of the creation of the state, Chief Sylva said his administration would demobilize and re-integrate all armed groups in the state.
He urged the militants operating in secrete camps in the state to embrace the opportunities the state would offer to every one of their members.
He said the threat to many communities was real and the long-term implication for socio-economic activities was in the negative.
Sylva said the time had come for the state to shun the toga of an insecure territory and rather adopt its real status as a safe and peace-loving state. "At the inception of this administration, we decided to replace the image of Bayelsa with one of unity, national patriotism, security, peace and prosperity," he stated
The governor appealed to all the armed groups in the state to lay down their weapons and join him in developing the state. "Bayelsa State needs your sweat and not your blood."
He warned that anyone who waged any act of violence in the name of the people of the state was on his own as such individuals would not be accepted as patriots in the state.
The governor said the 12 years since the creation of the state had been characterised by fear, insecurity and instability. This, he noted, had reduced the image of the state in the country and internationally as one of violence and insecurity.
"I have no doubt that guided by a shared vision of a united secure and prosperous Bayelsa State underpinned by transparency and accountability, we will surpass the Millennium Development Goals," he said.
Sylva stressed that the state had the capacity and destiny to the trigger point of Nigeria's development. He added, however, that the status could only be achieved if there was peace and security in the state.
"Violence of any form cannot now be tolerated at all because it can only diminish our potential for greatness. We now have a rapidly developing state capital, greater political representation and more resources," he added.
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