Tejiri Ebikem/Francis Sadhere
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has implored Deltans to at alert to forestall any action that could lead to breach of peace.
The Governor, who made the call in Warri during a meeting with transition committee chairmen and traditional rulers, posited that vigilance was necessary for people with sinister motives entering the state to be identified.
In the words of the Governor; “We welcome visitors to our communities, our state but we will not welcome visitors that will give us trouble. Those that are coming into the state with interior motives will not be allowed to stay with us.”
Governor Uduaghan added; “The case of cattle rearers used to be a national problem. I want to assure our traditional rulers that the government is doing all that is possible to handle the situation and the security agencies are working out strategies. However, our traditional rulers should be at alert and monitor visitors and strangers coming into your communities. We welcome visitors, but not the ones that will give us trouble. We are working to ensure that we monitor those coming into our state and we will allow the legitimate ones to stay with us. Please alert us if you notice unusual things.”
He emphasized that nobody can blackmail the state or federal government by engaging in criminal activities, stating that Delta State is not safe for criminals.
Dr Uduaghan also urged traditional rulers to be at alert to avoid unhealthy occurrence between their subjects and cattle rearers, disclosing that government is working with security operatives to reduce incidence of clashes between communities and herdsmen.
The Governor used the occasion to observe that there was a recent change in the leadership of the Delta State House of Assembly, saying that the Assembly members were so matured that leadership change was done peacefully.
“There was a leadership change in the state house of assembly which was done peacefully. I praise them for their maturity and the peaceful manner that it was done. Politics often cause crisis,” he said.
While commending the state Legislature for being peaceful and matured, the Governor urged all aspirants for elective positions to engage in peaceful actions and avoid any act that is capable of overheating the polity.
He also appealed to the traditional rulers to advice aspirants who are seeking for their blessings to carry out their campaigns and consultations in peaceful manner.
Also speaking, the State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama said that the boundary issue between some communities in Edo and Delta was a long standing one, adding that; “and it has assumed a much urgent note because government was building a bridge across the river to link up communities in Edo state. The work was stopped. We reached an agreement that no development should be stopped because it is to the benefit of all.”
“I want the traditional rulers to provide information that would help us resolve the problems. They should know where they were before forestry took over the place. Governor Uduaghan has liaised with the governor of Edo to urge him that his people should not stop the project. We are planning a meeting also to resolve the issues. Whatever document that can help us, please bring it to us,” the Deputy Governor added.
Traditional rulers who spoke at the meeting, expressed gratitude to the Governor for giving them opportunities to brainstorm on how to move the state forward.
