By Olayemi Esan
The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has said for Nigeria to attain its status as ‘Giant of Africa’, security agencies need to work in collaboration with the people to end the country’s intractable security challenges.
Governor Diri stated this on Tuesday when he received the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya and other principal army officers who paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
In a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, on Wednesday, the Governor restated the need for all Nigerians to join hands as a people to accelerate the country’s pace of development.
“We cannot afford to disunite our country because we need to be together and work together to make this country one of the best. This can only be done when we work as one and as a people whose development had been stunted and strive to fast-track it,” Governor Diri noted.
While congratulating Yahaya on his appointment as the 22nd Chief of Army Staff, the governor prayed God to grant him the wherewithal to stamp out insecurity in the country.
“We believe that with your appointment as the 22 Chief of Army Staff in the Nigerian Army, God who has brought you in, will give you the wherewithal and support to bring the level of insecurity we have witnessed for some time down to a point that Nigeria will actually stand up as Giant of Africa,” he prayed.
Senator Diri, who said security was a collective responsibility, commended security agencies in the state for their gallant efforts at ensuring peace and stability as well as the people for their support.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff said he was on an operational visit to the 16th Brigade, which is under the command of the 6th Division, Nigeria Army as well as the Joint Task Force.
Yahaya lauded the state government for its support for security agencies towards assisting them to perform their duties optimally; and went further to solicit the people’s cooperation in checking criminal activities in the state.