Bayelsa supports South-South people's confab
From Willie Etim, Yenagoa
POISED to remain a major stakeholder in the development of the South-South zone, the Bayelsa State government yesterday pledged to continue to support and encourage the zonal people's conference.
The state Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha gave the assurance during a meeting of leaders of thought from the zone held in Yenagoa, the state capital. He said that as elected representatives of the people, they have no other option than to toe the position of the zone on matters of critical relevance particularly as it affects the zone in the political equation of the country.
Such veritable mandate, according to the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, will create the enabling environment at the centre by projecting issues of the zone to the outside world, hoping that such commitment will extricate the zone from long years of neglect and marginalisation.
He emphasised that the state government will be fully committed to generating the necessary awareness and will mobilise resources to assist the conference in it activities and programmes.
The National Deputy Chairman of the South-South Peoples' Conference, Chief Edwin Clark said the meeting was to checkmate possible conspiracy by any group, individual or ethnic group to strife growth and development of the region.
He noted that the conference would live no stone unturned to fully turn around the fortunes of the region through people-oriented leadership.
According to Clarke, the people have concluded plans to take a shot at the Presidency so that the impact of its enormous contributions and expectations of the people of the region would be met.
Also speaking, leader of the conference in Akwa-Ibom State, Dr. Akpanika Ambrose, had commended the giant development strides of the administration of the duo of Alamieyeseigha and Jonathan.
Ambrose noted that by the evidence available in the state, Bayelsa had justified the clamour for resource control.
In a statement issued at the end of the conference, it resolved to tackle vigorously through legitimate means misguided attempt by 19 Northern states governors and two from the South/West to resurrect the suit on onshore-offshore dichotomy at the Supreme Court.
It also adopted a consensus to present an acceptable candidate from the zone for the 2007 presidential election and called on all governors from zone to work in concert for the realisation of the agenda.
