November 30, (THEWILL) – An Environmental rights activist, Comrade Alagoa Moris, has revealed the reasons why he embarked on a massive campaign for the re-election of Senator Douye Diri for a second tenure.
Comrade Alagoa Moris, who was appointed as the Technical Adviser on Environment 1, to Governor Douye Diri said, he was given the appointment in August 2023 and by the letter, Technical 1, it means there are others, but he is the Technical Adviser one and was ready to hit the ground running, but the appointment was given to him in August and much was not done as everybody’s attention and resources were deployed towards the election and with election over, he was prepared to perform his duties, with his background as an Environmental Right Activist.
“I have visited the Ministry of Environment to meet with the 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 with.”
He disclosed that environmental work was not an office job, as agencies like Environmental Sanitation, security and Tourism need close collaboration, noting that of a truth 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.
“The type of zoological garden the state needs should not be the type to keep crocodiles, but for conservation of endangered species, a few days ago, a video of a giant catfish caught in the Southern Ijaw local government area went viral, these are things the zoo can conserve for research and leisure ”
He said now that the 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 Governor Douye Diri, he said, he joined other well-meaning Bayelsans, to throw his weight behind him because among the contestants he possessed a peaceful mien, his disposition to peace and tranquillity, and the fact that he has 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 the Labour party, Timipere Sylva, a very intelligent man who was my former mate in Secondary school, Udengs Eradiri visited me with his wife.
‘‘My interest was not in parties, but in the personality that informed my choice of Senator Douye Diri, and with the appointment 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 to influence a lot of development to my area, Odenwari, which is lacking social amenities and that have not had a commissioner since the creation of the state, adding that the people need a voice and that is the lacuna am prepared to fill.
“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 river sides, with sand filling development will spread inwards.”
Commenting on why he hosted Odenwari people just after the election, he said the reception was for the entire ward 3 which has three blocks, Ikiebiri block, Krokrosei block and Odenwari block and considering what they faced during the past election there was a need to celebrate and congratulate the winners, the Governor Senator Douye Diri and Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor.
“In fact, before the election there were security reports that the APC Deputy Governor, Chief Joshua Maciver was mobilising gunboats to patrol the rivers to scare and intimate voters and unfortunately, our reports were not treated and the day of the election gunboats and hired thugs in armed uniforms flooded the area and ballot boxes were hijacked after sporadic shootings into the air, but thanked 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 the Southern Ijaw local government area, despite all the voters’ education, Sensitisation and signing of the peace accord, he denied that the violence was not only in Southern Ijaw local government area but extended to other parts of the state.
“I agreed there were several electoral Malpractices, but the case in the Southern Ijaw local government area, was worse because the APC Deputy governor candidate, Joshua Maciver, was from there and the people wanted to vote for him after promising them slots in Tantita security jobs and heavy financial inducements before the election and again the people of Southern Ijaw local government area said Governor Douye Diri is constructing a road and brides, and the major bridge to link Oporoma headquarters of the Southern Ijaw local government area and they wouldn’t want these projects to be thwarted, hence Douye Diri was their best candidate.
He, therefore, advocated for voters’ education funded by international non-governmental organisations and stiff penalties, such as the persecution of offenders of electoral laws to avoid all the rape against democracy on the part of political parties and politicians.
