Bayelsa, ACN disagree over arrest of unemployed protesters

Bayelsa State Government and the Action Congress of Nigeria on Tuesday disagreed over the arrest of 22 jobless graduates for protesting against unemployment in the state. While the state government said politicians sponsored the protesters to discredit the efforts of Governor Seriake Dickson’s administration on job creation and youth empowerment, the ACN said the state government claim was misplaced.
State Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Francis Egele, explained that preliminary investigations carried out by the government showed that “disgruntled politicians sponsored the protest”.
He said the civil service had procedures for employment, adding that securing jobs in the service was not automatic.
Accusing the protesters of blackmail, Egele wondered where they got money to print branded T-shirts for the demonstration.
The commissioner said, “It is pure blackmail. Imagine people claiming not to have employment, printing branded T-shirts. How did they get it? It means that there are antagonists of this administration sponsoring them.
“The civil service cannot employ everybody in the state. Government can go to a limit. What we are against is people not following due process in the demand for their rights.
“The days of rascality are all over in the state. That is why you see relative peace in the state. It has made Bayelsa the safest place to live in.”
However, the ACN, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Christopher Abariowei, dismissed the government claims that the protest was illegal and politically motivated as unfounded.
The party added that the harassment of the youths by the police was undemocratic and unjustifiable.
It noted that the Peoples Democratic Party-led government had shown intolerance and lack of capacity to address the socio-economic problems of the people.
It insisted that Dickson’s administration had trampled on the rights of youths to protest government’s neglect.
The party demanded the unconditional release of the detained protesters and immediate withdrawal of the case in court.
The ACN said, “As a government, the ability to address and dialogue on critical issues such as unemployment, which borders on the growth, stability and development of the state should be approached with caution and not through the instrumentality of force and intimidation with law court.
“ACN demands the withdrawal of the case in court and the unconditional release of the unemployed youths.
“The present administration should be a responsible government that will be sensitive to the plight of the people and not to cow them.”