By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio

Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson yesterday, said  his administration had long been implementing institutional changes in line with democratic principles before the All Progressive Congress APC came up with its change slogan. Dickson, who stated this at the 11th All Nigerian Editors Conference holding in Yenagoa, urged Nigerians to collaborate with the Federal Government in the fight against terrorism, hunger, ethnicity and injustice to bring about the needed change in the country.

*File photo Gov Seriake Dickson

Speaking on the theme: The Change We Need: Role of The Editors,  he outlined a number of areas, where the state government had introduced some measures geared towards promoting good governance, citing an instance, when it created a peaceful atmosphere for the presidential campaign of Muhammadu Buhari in Yenagoa.

Opposition parties, according to the governor, have held several rallies in the state without recording any case of violence or harassment, as it was the norm   in previous elections in the state.

He described the theme of the conference as appropriate, especially as it was coming at a time Nigerians were getting attuned to the change mantra and urged the APC led government  to deliver  as promised.

The governor, who solicited the support of Nigerians for the Muhammadu Buhari led government for the enthronement of peace and development, recalled that  when the Peoples Democratic Party was in power, it did not enjoy adequate support from the then opposition party.

He also cautioned Nigerians against antagonising President Buhari.

His words: “For me even as a PDP governor, my position has been that after the elections all men and women of our country must unite to move the nation forward. This is because the important issues that we were elected to address are not partisan, because terrorism has no party colouration.

“We need to collaborate with the federal government now led by President Muhammadu Buhari on two essential fronts: to bring about the change that we need in this country and on issues of national security and law and order and we must work together as brothers..

“I feel that the last PDP government did not have sufficient understanding and cooperation from the then opposition party, even in the area of confronting terror. We politicised the war against terror and now we are almost making same mistake again. With this new government on board, we must all unite to defeat terrorism, until every ward, local government, state are secure, we cannot have a secure Nigeria.”

Dickson also drew attention to the abandoned first Oloibiri oil well, describing it as a reminder of the fact that, oil and gas were depleting assets and emphasized the need to diversify the economy.

He said: “In this state, the headquarters of oil and gas production in the country. The story of oil and gas  brought challenges. I urge you to find time to visit Oloibiri and remind ourselves again about the most important changes that all those in authority must deliver which is the diversification of our nation’s economy.

“Today our abandoned first oil well is a testimony to the fact that oil resources are indeed a wasting asset. That is a critical change all of us must work together to effect.”