Gov Diri Takes Action Over Oil-Wells Dispute Between Rivers And Bayelsa

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri has taken a stand to confront the feud between the people of Oluasiri in the state and Kalabari people of Rivers, the neighbouring state.

It was reported that Oluasiri communities in Nembe LG of Bayelsa and their Kalabari Ijaw kinsmen have been in loggerheads over the location of oil wells within the boundary area.

However, governor Diri on Thursday, September 17 in Yenagoa, the state capital met with stakeholders from Oluasiri, set up a team to amicably resolve the ongoing argument between the two groups, Naija News learnt.

Naija News understands that the governor at the stakeholder meeting held in the state capital, led by the paramount ruler, Chief Iyerite Awululu, appealed to Ijaw leaders and elders to end the age-long feud.

In a statement by Diri’s spokesman, Daniel Alabrah, ‘the state government will protect its territories and work with the communities to ensure the safety of residents.’

He also extended an olive branch to Rivers State Governor, Nyseom Wike. He said, “I’m calling on my brother governor of our sister state that this is a time that we need to look at the realities. As a people from the old Rivers State, we need to sit together and resolve our internal disputes, which should be easy to do because both feuding communities are of the Ijaw extraction.”

“We have no difference between the Nembes and Kalabaris. They are all Ijaws and so no other person should beat the drums of war against two friendly Ijaw clans,” said Governor Diri.

Diri revealed further that his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, will chair a committee to drive the process of peaceful resolution of the boundary adjustment issues, noting that his administration would engage security agencies on the need to curtail acts of lawlessness, particularly in the Oluasiri axis.

He said, “I will sit with my security commanders and see that we can beef up security in Oluasiri to protect lives and property. We will take some security measures in the interim pending when a substantive police station will be set up.”