By IGONIKO ODUMA, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Government has cautioned the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to operate within the confines of its constitution and stop meddling in chieftaincy matters in communities.

The Deputy Governor, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo gave the warning during an enlarged meeting with traditional rulers from the Ogbia Local Government Area of the state in Government House, Yenagoa.

Ewhrudjakpo in a statement issued at the weekend by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi urged the IYC not delve to into issues bordering on the election of traditional rulers.

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The deputy governor condemned what he described as pockets of insecurity emanating from unnecessary attempts to overthrow duly constituted community leadership, thereby causing tension and strife in some communities.

He, therefore, warned that government would not allow any recognized and gazetted traditional ruler to be arbitrarily dethroned by any individual or group of persons and impose themselves on the people.

He assured the meeting that the government would always ensure a peaceful process of electing leaders into vacant traditional stools and other elective positions in the various communities.

Ewhrudjakpo advised the leadership of IYC to only pursue worthy struggles to foster peace, unity and progress in line with the yearnings and aspirations of founders of the organization.

While thanking the Ogbia traditional rulers for their support, he reminded them of the need to register all visitors and non-indigenes in their communities for security reasons.

Ewhrudjakpo said, “We are beginning to see some level of insecurity gravitating towards unnecessary overtake of communities.

“We will not as a government, under the leadership of Senator Douye Diri, allow any traditional ruler who has been gazetted to be overthrown or put out of office.”

In their separate remarks, the monarch of Ogbia Kingdom, King Charles Owaba and the various clanheads, commended the present administration for carrying traditional rulers along in the scheme of things.

They, however, called on the state government to address the issues of illegal oil bunkering, absence of police stations and access roads to some Ogbia communities particularly in Abhureri clan, the erosion menace at Anyama, among other challenges facing the area.

Also speaking, the service commanders in the state including the Commissioner of Police, CP Eworo Echeng, and Commander, 16 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. O.A Awolo, appealed to the royal fathers and people of the area to always volunteer actionable intelligence to the security agencies for prompt response.

Also present at the meeting were the member representing Ogbia Constituency 3 in the state House of Assembly, Naomi Ogoli, the Chairman of Ogbia Council, Ebinyon Turner and Governor Douye Diri’s Special Representative, Prince Isiki and Commissioners from the area. (Sunday Independent)

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