By Reginald Tobin
A youth activist, Comrade Atti Moses, has warned the incoming government of Bayelsa State governor-elect, Chief David Lyon, against excluding ex-Niger Delta agitators from government appointments in the state, noting that any attempt to do so will amount to victimization.
Moses, in a statement issued on Wednesday, faulted the assertion of an ex-Niger Delta Agitator, Paul Eris, popularly known as Ogunboss, who warned the State Governor-elect, Lyon, against appointing ex-militants as commissioners, as well as giving them several appointments in his administration.
But reacting to Ogunboss’ statement, the activist observed that governance is a collective responsibility, which requires everyone to serve in their best capacity, irrespective of size and handwork.
Moses, noted that ex agitators can play their roles in enhancing governance, as those who are intellectually qualified should be called to service.
He said “Governance and public administration covers a wide range of prospects and agents including the spiritual and physical aspects and behaviors of agents. Hence, excluding Ex agitators in the State Executive Council and subsidiary appointments and responsibility is a deliberate attempt to victimize Ex agitators by limiting them to only elective positions.
“Governance is a collective responsibility; it therefore means that all hands must be on deck irrespective of size or handwork. Ex-agitators are also part of governance. They should be called to service in any capacity if intellectually qualified.
“Ex-agitators are not dummies and just gun Shooters; we have a lot of them who are well educated in literature, Agriculture, Science and technology, Politics and Arts etc.”
Moses, appealed that ex-militants should be recruited and appointed into offices where they can be useful in serving Bayelsa State, such as the State Volunteers and Vigilantes services.
“I hereby make this submission that there are specific areas in Bayelsa State that Ex agitators can function at their full capacity especially in relations to their social appellation and a few of those areas are the Bayelsa State Vigilante Service and the Bayelsa State Volunteers,” Moses Added.
