Gov Dickson Renews Call for Collaboration in Fight Against Insurgency
Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson has again underscored the importance of all political leaders and the citizenry to join forces with the military and other security agencies in the fight against insurgency in the country
Speaking when the delegation and participants of the Institute of Security Studies, who were in the State on a training programme, visited him in Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Dickson noted that, those behind the current security problems in the country and their collaborators are common enemies of the people, stressing that, the battle to subdue them must be fought collectively by all.
Governor Dickson, who described the spate of buck passing of the security situation on the federal government as unnecessary, wondered why people are making politics out of the insurgency, especially the political class, who are critical stakeholders.
Governor Dickson noted that, the nation's constitution empowers every government with the capacity, to provide the needed support for the security personnel to effectively carry out their responsibilities to the people.
“It is the duty of every political leader to provide security and the citizenry to support the government, adding that everybody is aware of the sacrifices of our security personnel to ensure the protection of our sovereignty”, he said.
Governor Seriake Dickson used the opportunity to call for massive investments in security, as it remains a critical sector of the nation's development, noting that, his administration has continued to accord utmost priority to security issues, which also accounts for the existing peace in the State.
The Bayelsa State Chief Executive commended the Department of State Security, D.S.S., for putting up the training programme for its personnel and other related agencies and urged them to regularly organise training programmes to sharpen the skills of security agencies in line with current global challenges in the sector.
He remarked that, security does not come from the top as people assume, but rather it depends on the capacity of the security personnel, through adequate training, retraining and with support from the citizenry.
“You are in a state, where security is a top most priority, because of the synergy between government, the people and the security agencies, we need a paradigm shift in our security apparatus and operations.
“We have also invested heavily on education and other sectors. An enlightened society is a secure nation; a nation is secured by ideas.
“Our society, is that; which offers a stake to everybody; which is what we are trying to build based on good governance,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the delegation of the training Institute, Dr. Abdulwaheed Wali, explained that, Bayelsa is among four states, where the training programme was being organised.
According him, the Training programme, with the theme; “Democratic governance and national security, challenges and opportunities, was to equip the participants with the highest level of management and security competence.
Dr. Wali also used the opportunity to commend the State Government for the recent reburial of Ijaw hero, Late Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro in Yenagoa, describing it as a step in the right direction.
The participants in the training programme were drawn from 19 agencies, which included the FRSC, ICPC, NDLEA, NAFDAC, SON, Nigeria Prisons Service, NPC and the Immigration service, among others.
Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State