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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
An Environmental right activist, Comrade Alagoa Moris, has revealed reasons why he embarked on massive campaign for the re-election of Senator Douye Diri for a second term.
Comrade Alagoa Moris who was appointed as Technical Adviser on Environment 1 to Governor Douye Diri, said he was given the appointment in August 2023 and by the letter, Technical 1, means there are others, but he is the Technical Adviser 1 and was ready to hit the ground running.
He said though the appointment was given to him in August, much was not done as everybody’s attention and resources were deployed towards the election, adding that with the election over, he is prepared to perform his duties, especially given his background as an Environmental right activist.
“I have visited the Ministry of Environment to meet with commissioner, but he was not around. But my interface with top management staff has revealed there are a lot of policies and laws that have to be dealt,” he said.
Moris disclosed that environment work was not an office job, as agencies like Environmental Sanitation, security and Tourism need close collaboration, noting that the state government after its creation in 1996 is in dire need of a zoological garden within the state capital where the citizens’ appetite for leisure and picnic, as tourism product, could be taken care of.
“The type of zoological garden the state needs should not be the type to keep crocodile, but for conservation of endangered species. A few days ago, video of a giant cat fish caught in Southern Ijaw local government area went viral. These are things the zoo can conserve for research and leisure.”
He said now that election is over he is poised to perform his duties considering where he is coming from, as a renowned environmentalist.
On why he campaigned vigorously for Douye Diri, Moris said, he joined other well meaning Bayelsans to throw his weight behind the governor because among the contestants he possessed a peaceful mien, his disposition to peace and tranquility, and the fact that he had embarked on notable infrastructure such as roads to the hinterlands, including the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area road and bridge and for continuity in governance.
“In the last presidential election, l supported Peter Obi and was the state coordinator of Labour party. Timipere Sylva, a very intelligent man was my former mate in Secondary school; Udengs Eradiri visited me with his wife.
“My interest was not on party, but the personality and that informed my choice of Senator Douye Diri. With the appointment, I am ready to play active politics as l get set to pick my party membership ticket of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, because with this l should be able influence a lot of development to my area, Odenwari which is lacking social amenities and have not had a commissioner since the creation of the state,” adding that the people need a voice.
“I used my personal funds to campaign in radio stations in Bayelsa State and other logistics to drum support for Senator Douye Diri’s re-election.
“The area needs social amenities, shore protection and sand filling for people to build houses, instead of scrambling to build along the riverside. With sand filling, development will spread inwards,” he said.
Commenting on why he hosted Odenwari people after the election, he said the reception was for the entire ward 3 which has three blocks, Ikiebiri block, Krokrosei block and Odenwari block, adding that considering what they faced during the past election there was need to celebrate and congratulate the winners, the governor, Senator Douye Diri, and deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor.
“In fact before the election there security reports that the APC deputy governor, Chief Joshua Maciver was mobilising gun boats to patrol the rivers to scare and intimate voters. Unfortunately our reports were not treated and the day of the election gun boats and hired thugs in armed uniforms flooded the area and ballot boxes were hijacked after sporadic shootings into the air. But thankfully no life was lost. Unfortunately the only boat mishap that claimed life was conveying those who went home to vote and are APC members who l sympathized with.”
On why there were still pockets of electoral violence in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area despite all the voter education, sensitization and signing of the peace accord, Moris noted that the violence was not only in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, but was extended to other parts of the state.
“I agreed there were several electoral malpractices, but the case in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area was worse, because the APC deputy governor candidate, Joshua Maciver, is from there and some people wanted to vote for him after promising them slots in Tantita security jobs and heavy financial inducements before election and again the people of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area said Governor Douye Diri is constructing a road and bridges, and the major bridge to link Oporoma headquarters of the Southern Ljaw Local Government Area, and they wouldn’t want these projects to be thwarted, hence Douye Diri was their best candidate,” Moris said.
He therefore advocated for voters education funded by international non-governmental organizations and stiff penalties, such as persecution of offenders of electoral laws to avoid all the rape against democracy on the part of political parties and politicians.