Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has emphasized the critical role of security agencies in ensuring the forthcoming November 11 governorship election remains peaceful and credible. During a meeting with the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Musa Christopher, and other senior military officers, Diri urged vigilance against any attempts to undermine the electoral process.
Addressing the military officials, Governor Diri acknowledged Bayelsa’s status as a potential flashpoint, urging them to prevent any disruption by those attempting to impersonate military personnel. He expressed the government’s commitment to supporting security agencies in maintaining peace and avoiding loss of life during the electoral process.
Diri stressed the importance of strengthening democracy, highlighting the military’s role as a vital institution in achieving this objective. He called for collective efforts to build resilient democratic institutions for the benefit of the country.
Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, assured the governor that the off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo states would align with President Bola Tinubu’s directive, emphasizing a commitment to peaceful and credible polls. Gen. Musa, along with his team, visited Bayelsa to assess the security situation ahead of the election.
The Chief of Defense Staff warned against violence and assured that security agencies had a directive to end criminal activities, including sea piracy, illegal bunkering, and pipeline vandalism, contributing to the economic growth of the nation.
Gen. Musa issued a stern warning to anyone planning violence during the elections, emphasizing that security agencies would be vigilant. He reassured the public that the era of election-related violence and ballot box snatching was over, pledging to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
Governor Diri concluded by urging the political class to embrace a service-oriented approach, emphasizing the duty to serve the interests of the people rather than assuming a position of mastery. The meeting set the tone for collaborative efforts between the state government and security agencies to ensure a secure and credible electoral process in Bayelsa.
