Sequel to the falsehood peddled by a female activist, Ankio Briggs
that Governor Dickson had donated 1,200 hectares of Ijaw land to
Fulani herdsmen for cattle grazing, A former Niger Delta ex-militant
leader and Head of the Bayelsa State Waterways Security Task Force,
Africanus Ukparasia, also known as “General Africa” not to truncate
hard earned peace in the state by inciting Bayelsans.
The Ex-Militant warlord, however, called on all well-meaning Ijaw sons
and daughters to disregard her report in the social media in its
entirety because there is no truth in it.
“General Africa”, in a statement issued in Yenagoaon Wednesday, said
the governor merely made available the Bayelsa Palm Area as a confined
space for cattle rearers to rear their cows, slaughter it and sell
without encroaching on farmlands in the state.
According to him, the decision would curtail the herdsmen from moving
around the state with their cattle and destroying farmlands in the
process adding that, all these were done in the interest of all
Bayelsans “and to ensure that cattle rearers don’t go beyond their
”
General Africa warned Ankio Briggs and social media supporters to
desist from meddling on the state, stressing that further attempt to
use the social media or any other platform to incite the public
against the government will be resisted.
“Governor Dickson’s action was the right step and should be commended
Ankio Briggs should have contacted the governor directly to seek
further clarification on the government’s decision rather than take to
social media to incite the public against the government” the
Ex-Militant submitted.
Accordingly, he challenged Ankio Briggs to tell the public if it is
better for the herdsmen to roam our communities and in the process
destroy farmlands which will later result in untold crisis, needless
bloodletting and mayhem between the herdsmen and our people.
“The governor’s decision to use Bayelsa Palm as a consigned space for
them to rear their cattle as a means of regulating the activities of
cattle rearers in the state is in the interest of everyone. That was
why the government made the move to set up a committee after due
consultation with security agents to manage the activities of cattle
rearers in the state so as to prevent the unfortunate incidence of
what is happening in some states.
“The Fulani herdsmen are even expected to pay taxes to the state
government for using that confined space that has been provided”, he
stated.
“Ankio Briggs cannot claim to be more Ijaw than the Governor who is
committed to the service to the Ijaw nation, even as he urged her to
focus her attention in her home state (Rivers State) where Ijaw
collective interest has continue to suffer setbacks.
To this end, General Africa warned those who may want to ride on Ankio
Briggs falsehood to desist, stressing that sustained peace in the
state was at a great cost, and that been out of the trenches we would
contend with anyone or group with intent truncate the peace in the
state in order to and destabilize the polity to achieve their selfish
aim.