•••Tasks INEC on use of airforce in air-lifting of electoral materials

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission and other stakeholders, to explore the option of using the  airforce in airlifting of electoral materials to riverine areas in the November 11 governorship election in the state.

Governor Diri, made the call when he played host to new service chiefs, Air Officer Commanding Mobility Command, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Oladele Yusuf, the new FOC, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ayuba Umar and the new commissioner of police, Mr Tolani Alausa, at government house, Yenagoa.

The governor, said the involvement of the airforce will assist in timely and easy distribution of sensitive electoral materials in the riverine areas of the State.

He also called for synergy amongs security agencies to tackle the challenges of oil theft, environmental pollution occasioned by oil production and exploration in the Niger Delta Region.

The state chief, executive, who decried the oil theft in the region however advised the military to be professional in handling those arrested with vessels of illegal crude oil in the maritime domain. 

While urging the the new service commanders not to compromised the security architecture of the State, he pledged his administration’s continued support.

His words,” sometimes the people of Bayelsa wonder if the discovery of oil in commercial quantities which started here in Bayeelsa State, is actually a blessing or a curse; In one hand it’s a blessing and in the other, it’s more like a cure; cause  our environment had been polluted to the extend that the lives and the livelihood of the people of Bayelsa are in jeopardy.”

“Let me seize this opportunity of your formal courtesy call to again, pin-points  some of these daily occurrences in our state and generally, in the Niger Delta.I think we should put a stop to some of these practices that are never acceptable outside this country”.

Governor Diri, said the importance of the security agencies in nation building cannot be over-emphesisd and promised to create the enabling environment for them to succeed in the state.

The governor, lauded the security agencies for their support during the last flood in the state, especially the airforce and sued for it sustenance. 

He said his administration is poised in working with all security agencies to ensure the security and safety of lives and properties.

Earlier, Air Officer Commanding Mobility Command, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Oladele Yusuf, the new FOC,Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ayuba Umar  and the new commissioner of Police, Mr Tolani Alausa, pledged to consolidate on the achievements of their predecessors in the area of reducing crime to the barest ebb.

Air Vice Marshal Yusuf, Rear Admiral Umar and Mr Alausa, said the esnsce of the visit was to familiarise themselves with the state government, have been posted to the State and also to cross-fertilise ideas on best ways to secure the state.

The trio,  who promised to be professional in their conduct, expressed readines to assist the state government in tackling insecurity