Lawmaker Sues For Peace In Kolokuma

Deputy Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Fini Terah Angaye, has stressed the need for people of Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa State to be united and work with the present administration in the state for sustainable development.

Hon. Angaye, who stated this, during a meeting with the Kolokuma/Opokuma Elders Forum in Yenagoa, said opposition would not guarantee them the dividends of democracy pointing out that the only option for them was to support government in power.

According to the lawmaker representing Kolokuma/Opokuma constituency II in the House, leaders were divinely selected, saying that the people of the area should have a rethink and rally round the Peoples Democratic Party led-government, in their quest for socio-economic development in the area.

He lamented that though the area boasts of highly placed persons in the academia, military and the civil service, adding the situation has not repleted in the development of the area.

He pointed out that the area had been politically marginalised by past governments because of opposition, adding that the best option available to the people was to continue to work with the present administration, with a view to attracting positive development opportunities.

He noted that no community could develop by being on the opposition and commended the elders for their support during the last elections in the area.  The deputy speaker, who lauded President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for providing a level playing ground in the polity, said the 2011 polls remains the most transparent and credible in the history of Nigeria, pointing out that the transparent electoral process has thrown up credible and qualitative representatives at all levels of governance.

He, therefore, appealed to the elders, youths, women groups, civil society and all stakeholders to contribute their quota in strengthening the emerging democratic culture in the local government area.  Hon Angaye also used the occasion to thank the state governor; Chief Timipre Sylva for his favarouble disposition towards the people of Kolokuma/Opokuma local government in the spread of political appointments, reiterating that the governor has been so magnanimous to the people of the area under his administration, while reassuring the governor of total support in the next election.

Earlier, the chairperson of the occasion, Mrs. Victoria Denenu thanked the deputy speaker, for appreciating the elders after his election, due to the roles they played to return him to the State House of Assembly.

She appealed to the people of the area to rally round Hon. Angaye to enable him attract meaningful development projects to the area.

Mrs. Denenu, who is the immediate past Commissioner for Environment, said the deputy speaker, through his hard work has brought pride to the area because of his ability to garner support for the governor at all levels.

Also speaking, the clan head of Kolokuma Kingdom, HRM, Mozi Onya Agara, Kala Okun III, stressed the need for unity among the people of the area, calling on the youths to embrace peace and shun acts that were inimical to development.   In his remark, the Special Adviser to the governor on Labour and Productivity, Hon. Jackson Swokiri, disclosed how the deputy speaker facilitated his appointment and many others.