Former Commissioner for Information in Bayelsa State, Chief Nathan Egba-Ologo, has described as disturbing the frequent change of police commissioners in the state.
He said the development “is a dangerous trend for sustained peace and security” and called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to put an end to it “if the people must feel safe and secured”.
Egba-Ologo, a former ally of former Governor Timipre Sylva, spoke in Yenagoa on Saturday when he appeared as a guest on a popular radio programme, The Mandate.
He said the incessant change of police chiefs has heightened tension in the state ahead of the crucial 2019 general elections and insisted that it is not in the best interest of the state.
The former Commissioner, who decried the recent activities of some miscreants and criminal elements, called on Bayelsans to join forces with the Restoration administration of Governor Seriake Dickson to fish out such misguided characters.
He explained that security is a collective business and should not be left in the hands of the government.
He, however, charged law enforcement agents to go after those who are determined to return the state back to “the dark days of insecurity”.
The erstwhile spokesman to the Bayelsa State Government lashed out at those playing politics with the issue of security, saying blaming the state government for certain skirmishes is unpatriotic.
While explaining the circumstances that led to his final exit from the All Progressive Congress (APC), Egba-Ologo said it was one of the best decisions he took, as the APC was no longer the party it professed to be.
According to him, the APC has lost its glory and only exists on paper and stressed that more of its members will soon dump the party and join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he described as the only party that can boast of democratic values.
“APC can never win elections in Bayelsa again,” he stressed.
The former APC chieftain thanked Governor Dickson for giving him and others the opportunity to return to the PDP, noting that the governor has brought stability to Bayelsa.
He stated that like never before, Dickson has extended his hand of fellowship to members of the opposition because of his belief that the development of Bayelsa should come first above other interests.
He said: “This is a second term governor who is not contesting an election and who does not have anything to lose yet he is still wooing those on the other side to come over. That shows you the kind of large heart he has. We have never seen this kind of politics and so I must commend the governor.
“Look at what he did recently, giving back the jobs of those who lost in the last primaries back to them. That too has never happened before. It shows how politically benevolent he is and we must appreciate him for that.
“PDP in Bayelsa is now more united, stronger and better. There is great respect for individual rights of members and all these are enough to endear more people to the party”.
Speaking on the issue of development, the former spokesman of the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation praised Dickson for the infrastructural revolution which he said cuts across all sectors.
“The achievements of this administration is enormous. From road project to schools, health facilities and so on. We have seen a major revolution. For instance, the 500-bed hospital, he has turned it into a medical university rather allowing it to rot away. The University of Africa in Toru-Orua and so on. So clearly, I think the governor has performed creditably.
“He is committed to setting a standard and with what he has put in place including the airport which I failed to mention earlier, the economy of the state will receive a major boost. This is the kind of leadership that we expect for a state like Bayelsa and Dickson is offering that now”.
The former Information Commissioner, who said his relationship with his former boss, Sylva, has gone sour politically, called on members of PDP to close ranks in their collective desire to emerge victorious in next year’s general elections.
