The Bayelsa Rescue Movement (BRM), a socio-political group has decried alleged perceived political marginalisation of Bayelsa East Senatorial District and parts of Yenagoa Local Government Area.
The group said the affected areas had contributed significantly to the economic, political and social development of the state.
This is contained in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kalas Nimitenbofa, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.
Nimitenbofa noted that Brass, Ogbia and Nembe Local Government Areas which constituted Bayelsa East, remained critical to the state’s economic development.
He therefore urged Gov. Douye Diri to urgently address what it described as a pattern of political exclusion from key government and party positions.
He also noted that Yenagoa being the state capital and administrative headquarters deserved adequate representation in political decision-making.
”This is not a demand for political patronage. It is a demand for fairness, inclusion, equity and a sense of belonging for every resident of the state,” he said.
The BRM publicity secretary warned against concentrating critical political responsibilities in particular senatorial districts at the expense of other sections of the state.
He said that the state government was not the private preserve of any individual, family, political tendency or geographical bloc.
According to him, Bayelsa is a common institution established for the benefit of all residents, irrespective of political affiliation or geographical location.
He added that persistent concentration of key appointments in certain areas could create a perception of exclusion and weaken confidence in equality.
He recalled that Diri’s first tenure was characterised by what it described as inclusive political arrangements, and claimed that political imbalance had become more pronounced in the distribution of major appointments during the governor’s second tenure.
”Bayelsa must not become a state where some residents are regarded as ‘core’ and others as ‘non-core’ based on language, geography or proximity to power,” he said.
Nimitenbofa emphasised that Bayelsa, as an Ijaw-majority state, should avoid actions capable of deepening political divisions and undermining its common identity.
”Bayelsa east remains central to the state’s economic life, while Yenagoa is the political and administrative capital,” he emphasised.
He added that the areas’ contributions to development, revenue generation, commerce and the overall well-being of the state could not be ignored.
He therefore called on the state government to review the existing political arrangement and restore fairness and inclusiveness in government.
”This is not about creating division. It is about preventing division,” he stressed
He added that the demand was not for rigid sharing of positions, but for reasonable access to decision-making processes, and urged the administration to ensure that every part of the state had a genuine sense of belonging in the affairs of Bayelsa.(NAN)
