2019: Dickson, Clark charge security agencies on professionalism

Governor Seriake Dickson

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has called on relevant authorities and the security agencies to conduct themselves in a way that would promote the nation’s democracy, rather than putting it in jeopardy.

Dickson made the call when he received, the Ijaw National Leader and Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, who paid him a condolence visit over the  death of his mother, Mrs GoldCoast Dickson, at his  Official  Residence in Abuja.

Dickson, in a statement issued on Saturday, by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr Fidelis Soriwei said there was need for professional conduct among security agencies as Nigeria prepare for 2019 General Elections.

He said that professional conduct among security personnel was also critical to maintaining National and economic stability.

He said that Nigerians and lovers of democracy were concerned and watching the conduct of security agencies ahead of the 2019 general elections.

He added that an abuse of the security forces would, however, constitute a threat to the security and stability of the country.

“We urge the security agencies to conduct in a way that would stabilize democracy.

“The greatest challenge we have ahead of the 2019 of election is the the conduct of the security agencies.

“That is the concern of Nigerians.

Politicians and people in government need to know that there is a country to govern after elections.

“Let us not in the quest for election to destroy these critical agencies of state and the career and reputation of these officials,

“When you politicize these agencies, you threaten the careers of these people who are professionals in their own right.”

The Governor condemned the recent assassination attempt on the Deputy Senate President,  Prof. Ike Ekweremadu, saying it is totally reprehensible.

“I also condemn the attack on the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. It was an invasion of the Democratic order.

Dickson also expressed concern about “the recent positing of eight police commissioners to Bayelsa within a  period of three months.

“It won’t take you long to know that there is a sinister game going on to destabilize and create instability in the state that we have worked so hard to stabilize.”

It also quoted Clark, stressing the need for professional conduct among security agencies to promote  credible elections in 2019.

The elder statesman also condemned the frequent change of police guards in Bayelsa.

He cautioned a former governor who he alleged of being behind the instigation of the politics in police postings to the state to have a rethink.

Clark said he was not surprised about  recently invasion of his Abuja  house at 91, by the men of Nigeria police in a purported search for arms.(NAN)