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By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa—The Action Congress in Bayelsa State has called on the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to wade into the widening political discord in the state in the wake of the continued detention and trial of three civil society leaders and former aide to the state governor, Mr. Famous Daunemigha.

According to the party, such tensed political climate should be resolved before the proposed visit of President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Though the party said it was not against the ongoing court processes against the affected persons, it, however, called on the vice president to prevail on the state governor and the arrested four persons to settle out of court and reduce the noticeable tension in the state capital, especially during the hearing of their cases.

Speaking on behalf of the party at the weekend after a Gold award on ‘Service to Humanity’ was conferred on him by the News Ray during the 4th edition and 15th year anniversary lecture, the state secretary of Action Congress (AC), Comrade Ebikibina Miriki, said the vice president should take the bold step of intervening in the issue concerning the arrest and trial of the four persons now popularly referred to as “Bayelsa Four”.

Miriki said the party leaders’ plea for the vice president’s intervention became necessary due to the noticeable political disharmony and tension in the state and the considered threats to the expected visit of the president.

“It will not speak well of the state and if not properly handled, it could portend wrong signals to the political setting of the state,” he said.

Miriki noted that the call by the vice president for a partnership between the political class and media for the peaceful resolution of the contentious issues of the region was a welcomed development, in view of the pathetic conflicts and attacks on the various oil installations by militant groups.

“While supporting the vice president on the call to the end of the brigandage, grandstanding and gangsterism in the region, the Federal Government should sincerely and proactively sustain the needed partnership between the media and the government to achieve a positive result toward peace in the Niger Delta,” he pleaded.

The AC scribe, who dedicated to God the Gold award conferred on him and to the supporters of the party, the media and the people of the state, said “this is a motivating factor for a critical and positive contribution by the party and myself to the realization of the development plan termed “project Bayelsa” and the sustenance of desired peace and development”.