Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa has given members of the Odioma Council of Chiefs in the Brass local government area the option to resign their membership in political parties.

He also constituted a six-man peace and reconciliation committee to look into the immediate and remote causes of the communal unrest and insecurity threatening the peace of the Odioma community.

The governor gave the order on Tuesday at an enlarged meeting with the chairman and members of the Odioma Council of Chiefs and other critical stakeholders of Odioma in Government House, Yenagoa.

“As chiefs, you should drop your party membership card the moment you are elected a chief because they are irreconcilable,” stated Mr Diri.

The governor, represented by Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said his administration would not tolerate the breakdown of law and order in Odioma or any other community in the state.

He advised them to live together in peace and avoid actions capable of causing a recurrence of the 2005 experience in which federal military troops invaded and destroyed Odioma.

“For now, the police would remain there until we have resolved all the major issues. Secondly, the council of chiefs must be more proactive and live up to their responsibilities,” added Mr Diri. “As you leave here, PDP members go and resign your PDP membership; likewise, APC members go and resign your APC membership. If you are not ready to do that, then resign from the council.”

The six-man Odioma Peace and Reconciliation Committee has the attorney general and commissioner for justice, Biriyai Dambo (SAN), as chairman, while the special adviser to the governor on security matters, Akpoebi Agberebi (retd), is to serve as secretary.

Other committee members are Timi Omubo-Agala (Brass Constituency 2 at the Bayelsa State House of Assembly); Boma Spero-Jack (technical adviser on conflict resolution); police commissioner Ben Nebolisa Okolo, and SSS director in the state.

The committee has one month to complete its assignment. 

(NAN)