By Igoniko Oduma - Yenagoa
Concerned lawyers in Bayelsa State under the umbrella of Young Lawyers Coalition for Good Governance have rallied in support of Governor Seriake Dickson in the face of the threat by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to drag the governor to court over alleged non-rehabilitation of repented cultists in the state.
The lawyers in a statement at the weekend in Yenagoa which was signed by its President, Igbete Itari, and Secretary, Beinmote Amambogha respectively describing NYCN and IYC as misguided and their threat empty.
It would be recalled that NYCN and IYC had on Wednesday threatened to institute a legal action against Governor Dickson for allegedly refusing to implement a contract signed between his government and renounced cultists regarding their rehabilitation.
They had threatened to sue the governor to court over his alleged non-commitment to bursary payment plans in the last three years in the state.
Former president of NYCN in the state, Bright Igrubia, had also demanded an apology from the governor over alleged failures of his administration to empower and develop youths in the state.
The youth leaders had issued a 30-day ultimatum to Dickson to review his policies on youth development and reverse what they called the noticeable failures of such policies on youth matters.
“The youths are angry because they embraced the restoration policies of the present administration. After 34 months of the present administration, we have witnessed a drastic decline in the youth initiatives of the administration.
“The last 34 months of the present administration have been a waste. And it also witnessed a poor relationship between the state and the youth”, Igrubia said. However, the lawyers had in a swift reaction warned the NYCN and IYC against inciting the youths of the state, saying that the Dickson administration was reputed for its uncommon youth development and empowerment policies.
“It is therefore unfortunate that Bright Igrubia, who could not move freely in the state because of menace of cult activities before Dickson assumed office, could open his mouth wide to attack the governor.
“Let Igrubia and his ilk know that there was no time the Dickson administration promised payment of any sort or salary as being paid to amnesty beneficiaries for cultists.
“On the contrary, cultists were asked to renounce their membership of such criminal gangs.
“Dickson, being mindful of the special place of the youth in the maintenance of peace, social order and development in the state, has taken a holistic approach in tackling youth restiveness.
“Dickson has appointed more than 30 per cent of qualified youths into various political offices as Senior Special Assistants as well as 70 per cent appointed into the rural development authorities among other empowerment programmes”, the lawyers said.
They also listed the Samson Siasia Football Academy at Angalabiri, the Sports Academy at Asuama and the International Institute of Tourism, Yenagoa, as further deliberate projects carried out by the governor to empower youths, cautioning the youth groups against being tools in the hands of disgruntled politicians.
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