The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson, has
signed into law the controversial Symbols and Songs Bill into law having been
passed by the state House of Assembly.

The bill was among
eight other bills Dickson signed into law during the State Executive Council
meeting held in Yenagoa, last Wednesday.

The governor while signing the bills said that it provided a
unique opportunity for the government to make a clear pronouncement on the real
amendment of the law.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Daniel Iworiso-
Markson, in a statement made available to journalists later, said the state was
a federating unit in the country, created and recognised with rights, powers
and obligations.

It would be recalled that the earlier flag, coat of arms and
anthem bill forwarded by Dickson to the assembly generated negative criticisms
across the country.

It was learnt that these verbal attacks necessitated the
amendment of the bill to symbols and songs by government.

Part of the statement read: “That all structures, organs and
officials of the state operate under the Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria”.

“That our decision to have state symbols and songs are as a
result of our belief in true federalism as a cardinal cornerstone of Nigerian
nationhood and it is in exercise of our inalienable rights as a federating
unit”.

This is a right, which we cannot be denied since several
other states with the same rights have equally exercised such. “That the
decision taken by our government in this regard is also as a result of our
commitment to the propagation of Ijaw culture, language, history and ideals.