Bayelsa: Massive security as PDP primaries go on

By Kingsley Omonobi, & Samuel Oyandogha,
with agency report
Yenagoa— Over 15,000 police personnel are to
provide security in Bayelsa State as the ruling
People’s Democratic Party, PDP, defies a court
injuction and goes ahead with today’s
governorship primaries in the state.
Apart from the police personnel, the Nigerian
Army, the Air Force and the State Security
Services, SSS, will also provide additional
security even as the Joint Task Force, JTF,
‘’Operation Restore Hope,’’ have been placed on
stand-by as President Goodluck Jonathan, who is
a from the state and a delegate in the
primaries is expected to participate in the
programme.
Saturday Vanguard learnt that as a result of
the tension in the state, occasioned by the
party’s handling of the primaries, there were
fears that an unspecified number of armed
thugs suspected to be militants have been
assembled to cause confusion during the
primaries.
As a result of this, the police said they were
not leaving any stone unturned to ensure
security of lives and propperty.
It has furthermore, deployed the anti-Bomb
Disposal Units, sniffer dogs to deter trouble
markers during or after the exercise.
The PDP which had already screened out the
state Governor, Mr Timipre Silva out of the
race, after he expressed his readiness to seek
a second term in office on the platform of his
party through he became governor.
The Bayelsa State Police Commissioner, Hillary
Opara, confirmed in Yenegoa that security has
been intensified in the state, adding that he
had received reinforcement of personnel and
arsenals from eight states in readiness for the
primaries.
Opara said that 17 Police Mobile Force, PMP,
units, additional four Armoured Personnel
Carriers, APCs, four lorries and other patrol
vehicles were received on Monday night to beef
up security in the state.
Silva has however, expressed deep concern
over the massive deployment of police and
other security personnel in Yenegoa over the
primaries.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press
Secretary, Doifie Ola, Sylva described the
massive deployment of troops as uncalled for,
adding that it was capable of endangering the
people’s fundamental human rights.
”As governor and chief security officer of the
state, Chief Sylva considers the troop
deployment as uncalled for and capable of
endangering the people’s fundamental human
rights.
”Governor Sylva calls on the people of the
state to refuse to be intimidated or provoked
into any form of violence over the needless
troop deployment. He urges all residents of the
state to remain calm and go about their
normal businesses, trusting in the ability of our
democratic institutions to address the existing
political anxiety in Bayelsa State.
‘’The Governor says our democratic institutions
have demonstrated the ability to resolve issues
arising from the contest for power at all levels.
Governor Sylva thanks the people of the state
for their continued support, maturity and
patriotism. He advises all parties in the political
contest to bear in mind that what is most
important now is the interest of Bayelsa State,
not the ambition of any individual of group of
individuals,” Silva stated.
He then urged residents of the state to remain
calm and go about their normal businesses,
trusting in the abililty our the democratic
institutions to address the existing political
anxiety in the state.
However, the state Police Commissioner Opara
said, “We are going to use them (security) to
make sure that Bayelsa State is secure for law
abiding citizens to go about their businesses
unmolested.
”The good people of Bayelsa State should be
happy to see an increase in the security of the
area.”
The commissioner said the command was also
taking proactive measures to ensure that
nothing compromised the integrity of the
peace that was already in place in the state.
“True to the saying that police are your friends,
so when you see the police it means the state
is secured.
”Apart from that , we have had elections. Just
yesterday, the PDP held their ward congresses
and they finished it and left. It was peaceful
and successful as there was no problem,” he
said.
The commissioner noted that “all this increase
in arsenal and personnel is a measure to keep
the place in order, peaceful, crime-free for the
exercise to go on peacefully.”
Opara who commended the political class for
their exhibition of maturity during the ward
congresses said “we don’t have any problem
with the politicians for now.
”I need to commend them because they have
conducted themselves very peacefully so
far. The ward congress election last Monday
was peaceful as there was nothing from
any angle to disrupt the activities.”
The Police Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy
Commissioner, Olusola Amore confirmed the
massive police deployment in Bayelsa saying, ‘’
All I can tell you at this moment is that we are
ready. Our men have been mobilised to ensure
a hitch free primaries but I cannot give you
any further details than that.’’
So far, several truck loads of soldiers and
policemen were seen moving into Yenegoa even
as armed soldiers and other securitymen who
were stationed at a distance of every 200
metres on the major streets were busy
conducting ‘’stop and search’’ on vehicles
irrespective of their owners, thereby causing
serious traffic gridlock and discomfort to
passers-by.
APCs were also stationed at strategic locations
across the length and breadth of the state.
Meanwhile, more check points have been set up
at strategic locations in Yenegoa and its
environ to forestall any breakdown of law and
order.
The state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr
Ene Ketebu also told NAN that preparations for
the primaries were in top gear.