The Supreme Council of Non Indigenes in Bayelsa on Monday applauded Governor Seriake Dickson for his belief in united Nigeria and accommodating people from different parts of the country.

Mr Ade Bakare, President-General of the Council, made the commendation during a stakeholders’ meeting in Yenagoa.

He said that Dikson’s appointment of seven non indigenes of the state into positions of trust in his administration, demonstrated his commitment to Nigeria’s unity.

The president-general advised non indigenes residing in Bayelsa to take advantage of the Dickson administration’s accommodation to participate actively in politics.

“The governor has exemplified unity as he appointed aides from all parts of the country in addition to providing a favourable climate for businesses to thrive, and recognising that non indigenes are partners.

“To have seven appointees from the council alone is heartwarming and shows that Bayelsa people are accommodating,” Bakare said.

He said that, of the over 600,000 registered voters in the state, non indigenes accounted for 197,300.

Bakare called on eligible voters yet to register, to take advantage of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) to do so.

Mr Alex Dombo, Special Adviser to Dickson on Non Indigenes, said at the meeting that the governor believed that the strength of Nigeria lied in its diversities.

Dombo said that the Bayelsa Government took people from other states as partners in the development process.

In his remarks, Mr Douglas Koko, the governor’s Special Assistant on Non Indigenes (South-South Zone), who spoke on behalf of his counterparts in charge of other zones, thanked the council for support for the Dickson administration.

“We are here to interact with the council and let members of the group to have an idea of what is going on in the government.

“We pledge to work for the welfare and benefit of non indigenes in Bayelsa.

“We assure you that we the appointees from the council are working together to advance the interest of the members,” Koko said.

Representatives of communities resident in Bayelsa, traditional rulers of communities resident in Bayelsa and founding fathers of the council attended the meeting.

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