Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, has decried the use of privileged positions and access to power to stir up violence and criminality.

The governor, who expressed his worries on Thursday during the Monthly Praise Night for November 2018 at the King of Glory Chapel in Government House, Yenagoa, charged politicians to take advantage of their positions to work toward promoting and supporting development at all times.

His Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor to have said that bad leadership by some persons in authority, who promote cultism and criminality, have corrupted the system and resulted to teenagers engaging in despicable acts of murdering fellow citizens in the state.

“Politics is not about promoting violence to destabilise the state. But it is rather about using privileged platforms at the state and federal levels to create a positive mark in the communities, local governments, state and the country at large.

“All those planning evil, planning to lead and serve our people but every meeting they call is about how to kill our people, buy weapons, get young men to kill more people and how to get together more cult people. One terrible thing that has happened is that because of what these people have done, some of the killers are about 12 and 13 years. That is what bad leadership has done in the state.

“If I were in authority at the federal level from a state that needs development, I will be working hard every day to see what difference I can make positively in my state, community and local government. If it is the wish of God that those people should use their privileged positions and access to work to promote criminality and instability in this state, then they will prevail. But if it is not, His judgement will consume them,” he said.

Governor Dickson appreciated the people of the state for their perseverance during the recent flood and urged Bayelsans not to relent in their prayers and continue to work collectively to promote peace and stability.

He also solicited their continued prayers for his family while informing the congregation about the funeral programme of his late mother, Ma Goldcoast Dickson. He explained that it would run for three consecutive days, kicking off with the service of songs at the Ecumenical Centre in Yenagoa on December 6, an all-night wake in his community, Toru-Orua, on December 7 while her remains will be committed to mother earth at her father’s compound in Toru-Angiama, Patani Local Government Area of Delta State on December 8.

He added that a special thanksgiving service will hold on Sunday, December 11, after the interment.

Earlier in a sermon titled “Understanding Praise”, the leader of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Akpe, said that praying and praising God with understanding yields outstanding results.

He admonished Bayelsans that their interest to praise God should not diminish even after the Dickson administration, stressing that Bayelsa is a testimony of the reward of praising God.

Highlighting 10 rewards of praise, Hon. Akpe, who is also a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, prayed against anything that would lead to shame in the lives of Bayelsans as they glorify God.

•Photo by Reginald Dei shows, L-R; Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, his wife, Dr (Mrs) Rachael Dickson, Speaker, Bayelsa State House Assembly, Rt, Hon. Konbowei Benson, and others, during the November 2018 edition of the State Monthly Praise Night, at the King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Yenagoa.

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