Lawyers, under the auspices of Young Lawyers Coalition for Good Governance, have dared some youth groups in Bayelsa State for threatening to sue Governor Seriake Dickson over alleged non-rehabilitation of repented cultists.
The lawyers in a statement on Saturday by their President, Igbete Itari, and Secretary, Beinmote Amambogha, the groups were misguided and that their threat was empty.
The youth groups – National Youth Council of Nigeria and the Ijaw Youth Council had on Wednesday threatened Dickson with legal action over his alleged refusal to fulfil a contract signed between his government and renounced cultists on youths’ rehabilitation.
They also threatened to drag the governor to court over his alleged non-commitment to bursary payment plans in the last three years in the state.
Former President, NYCN, Bayelsa State, Bright Igrubia, had demanded an apology from Dickson over alleged failures of his administration to empower and develop youths in the state.
He had said the aggrieved youth leaders had handed a 30-day ultimatum to Dickson to review his policies on youth development and reverse the noticeable retrogression of such policies on youth matters in the last few months.
Igrubia had said, “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.”
But reacting to the allegations, the lawyers warned the groups against inciting the youth of the state, saying that Dickson’s administration was reputed for its unparalleled youth development and empowerment policies.
They noted, “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 click know that there was no time the Dickson’s administration promised payment of any sort or a salary being paid amnesty beneficiaries for cultists.
“On the contrary, cultists were asked to renounce their membership of such criminal gang.
“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 youths 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.”
They said the Fertiliser and Petrochemical Company sited at Odioma in Brass area of the state was aimed at employing over 30,000 jobs teeming youths.
The lawyers also noted that the Samson Siasia Football Academy at Angalabiri, the Sports Academy at Asuene, the International Institute of Tourism and other such programmes were clear testimonies of the governor’s determination to develop and empower youths in Bayelsa.
The lawyers, who were determined to go all hog to defend Dickson in any court, urged the youths not to allow themselves to be incited by unappreciated groups but to file out in their large numbers to back second term bid of Dickson in order to consolidate on his programmes of building a new Bayelsa for them.
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