Governor Seriake Dickson

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has urged the various law enforcement agencies in the state to guard against politicization of security issues, as such acts could undermine security.

Governor Dickson, who stated this, when he received the new Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mohammed Sani Garba in Government House, Yenagoa, noted that, his administration has made substantial investment in ensuring peace and stability in the state.

According to him, crime has neither colour, nor political party and as such the government expects security agencies to bring the full weight of the law in uprooting those, who perpetrate violence and criminal activities.

His words: “I will like to say that those who are manning security agencies should not politicize security. In this state, those who know us, know how we take issues of security. For us, security knows no partisanship; criminality; has no colour and must be dealt with as such.

“If we have riffraff, who are a threat to their communities within this area, we expect the Navy under your command to take decisive steps to contain them and not pander to political interests, because what we have seen in this state is that, some criminals do have some backing of certain political elements in Abuja to undermine the security of this state. And, after some time, I believe you will come face to face with some of that reality. We count on all law enforcement agencies to fall back on their years of meritorious service to our country; to fall back on their experiences to manage such politicization of crime.”

Assuring the Nigerian Navy of the government’s support, Governor Dickson noted that, the command has a strategic role to play in ensuring security, particularly on the waterways, given the predominantly riverine nature of the state.

While acknowledging the contributions of his predecessor to securing the state, the Governor also approved the request for the provision of land for the Central Naval Command for the purpose of building a barrack and a landing jetty to enable the command function effectively.

Rear Admiral Garba had expressed his command’s readiness to collaborate with the state government in stemming crime.

Rear Admiral Garba, who promised to utilize the available resources to achieve the mandate of the command, highlighted promoting manpower development and personnel motivation, ensuring regional security, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea, as some of its duties in line with statutory provisions.

In a related development, Dickson has commended the Nigeria Police authorities for promoting five officers attached to the Government House, Yenagoa in its recent promotion exercise.

Governor Dickson, who gave the commendation while speaking with newsmen in his office, shortly after decorating the affected personnel, expressed the hope that, the promotion would motivate the beneficiaries to serve the force and the nation better in the performance of their law enforcement duties.

Three of the officers, who were promoted from the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, to Superintendent, include the Governor’s Aide De Camp (ADC), Mr. Eseimokumoh Agbalala, Mr. Akatakpa Dickson and Mr. Numoupeide Ben, while Mr. Victor Damien and Mr. James Thomas were elevated from Inspector to Assistant Superintendent of Police.