APC Secretariat In Bayelsa Will Be Demolished- Gov. Dickson

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bayelsa state plans to demolish the newly unveiled secretariat of rival All Progressive Congress, APC, says Governor Seriake Dickson.
Mr. Dickson said the building housing the party’snew office had long been marked for demolition to allow for road construction.
The APC had earlier accused the ruling PDP of masterminding attacks on its office by unknown persons, who removed the party’s flags and signposts from the newly unveiled secretariat in Yenagoa.
On Sunday, Mr. Dickson directed the police and other security agencies in the state to ensure adequate security at the APC secretariat.
A statement by Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Chief Press Secretary to Dickson said the directive is in keeping with the policy of the administration to ensure security of lives and property of residents and visitors to the State.
“As a responsive Government, we will not abandon what is clearly our constitutional duty to provide security and ensure that people go about their legitimate duties without any form of molestation and same for the APC and any other party that is lawfully registered and recognized as a political party in Nigeria” Mr. Dickson stated.
The governor however appealed to the leadership of the party at the national level to ensure that, steps are taken urgently to resolve the leadership tussle among its rank and file in the State.
He expressed serious concern over the seemingly bitter rivalry among members of theAPC in the state.
“Clearly, the rivalry or rift in the party is between loyalists of former Governor Timipre Sylva and members of the ACN, who have been in the opposition all the while and a part of the new alliance that gave birth to the APC.
“Another thorny issue within the party is that, two of Sylva’s loyalists (Richard Kpodo and Godwin Sidi) have reportedly imposed themselves on the party as chairman and secretary as well as sited the state secretariat atKpodo’s personal property located at the Etegwearea of Yenagoa without due consultation,” the governor said.
Mr. Dickson said the personal building of Mr. Kpodo had long been earmarked for demolition alongside other structures, to make way for the second fly-over bridge to be constructed aroundthe area.
He however assured that government has set aside the sum of N1 billion for the payment of compensation to owners of properties to be affected by the project.
According to him, the exercise is not to witch hunt anybody or group of persons, but purely intended to bring about infrastructural development to the state capital.
Mr. Dickson recalled how, a section of his personal property was demolished, as a result of ongoing expansion of the new Opolo/Elebele expressway, describing it as a price everybody has to pay for the development of the critical infrastructure of the State.
While, calling for the understanding and cooperation of the citizenry in this regard, the governor noted that, the development of the needed infrastructure in Yenagoa and other parts of the State, is a continuous exercise.
According to him buildings and other property that fall within the right of way of such projects will be demolished and compensation paid to their owners.
“Bayelsa is at peace and I want to use this opportunity to call on the APC to ensure that, the problem does not cause a breach of the peace within the State capital and its environs, as Government will do everything on its part to maintain the existing peaceful atmosphere around the state,” he said.