By Sam Jones
BAYELSA (SUNDIATA POST)- People have taken to the streets of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, in pro and anti government protests as the #EndBadGovernance protests started all over Nigeria on Thursday.
It was gathered that the #EndBadGovernance protesters had gathered at the Etegwe Roundabout in Yenagoa and were moving downtown to Government House when they were stopped by some youth who were in support of the state government at Opolo.
Our reporter was reliably informed that when at last they were allowed to continue the protest, some other youth stopped them at neighbouring Biogbolo.
The youth were said to be armed with bottles and other weapons and forced the #EndBadGovernance protesters to disperse.
The development was said to have taken the intervention of the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, to restore peace in the area.
The pro Diri protesters were gathered at the Kpansia axis of Yenagoa and Government House gate at about 1.00pm carrying placards with different inscriptions in support of the Prosperity Government.
Some of the placards read, “Thank You Gov Douye Diri For The Completion Of The First Phase Of The Glory Drive Yenagoa”, “Thank You Gov Douye Diri For The Igbogene/AIT Road” and “Thank You Gov Douye Diri For The Angiama Bridge”.
A protester, Mr. Innocent Kalango, who described himself as the Secretary, Bayelsa State Vigilante Service, said they carried out the protest to show support for Governor Douye Diri’s development strides in the state.
Kalango said it would be wrong to allow anti government protesters to destroy the infrastructure that government has put in place citing the mayhem that accompanied the #EndSARS protests across Nigeria.
He stated: “We are out in respect of the protest, but here in Bayelsa, we, the natives and non natives came out in solidarity with the Bayelsa State Government because of the massive infrastructural projects being carried out and also to protect the structures on ground.
“In Bayelsa, we are just developing and we will not want to see the structures on ground being destroyed. That’s why we came out.”
Meanwhile, some shops that were shut in the morning have begun to open for business as the situation around Yenagoa remained peaceful and calm.
Only few petrol stations were open for business just as major markets and government offices remained open while people went about their businesses.
Vehicular movement was scarce but not restricted; however, as the day wore on, many other cars, buses and tricycles were seen plying the main Mbiama/Yenagoa Road and the Isaac Boro Expressway.
However, some commercial banks that were seen vetting customers in the morning have finally shut their gates only allowing into their premises those who want to carry out transactions on their ATM points.
Security remained visibly strong in strategic places around the state capital with combined patrol vehicles of the state security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
At the Ox-Bow Lake road where the Yenagoa Branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Federal Secretariat Complex are located, only one lane of the dual carriageway is open to traffic.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, said he was not aware of any anti government protesters being stopped by the youth in Yenagoa.
