Gov Douye Diri of Bayelsa says that the essence of democracy will be lost if leaders fail to be accountable to the people.
Diri spoke on Sunday at a non-denominational Democracy Day service at the King of Glory Chapel, govement House, Yenagoa.
Reports have it that June 12 has been set aside to be celebrated as Democracy Day by the current administration.
The governor charged those occupying elective and appointive offfices to use their offices to serve the people and be accountable to them.
Diri said that elected or appointed officials should regard such positions of authority as a privilege and a platform to better the lot of the people.
”Today being Democracy Day, we should all be reminded to continue to give service to our people.
“If you have been elected or appointed into key government offices and positions, you should note that It is only a privilege.
“In all our actions, we should know that those who have given us the mandate to serve them are our masters and we are their servants. If you make yourselves a demi-god, you are only deceiving yourselves,” he said
Commenting on the recent attack on St Francis Catholic Church ,Owo, Diri condoled with the government and people of the Ondo state on the incident.
He said Bayelsa was solidarity with the government of Ondo state had declared that there would be no Democracy Day celebration.
Describing Bayelsa as a relatively peaceful state, Diri said the state’s security architecture was being repositioned with the signing of the Bayelsa Community Safety Corps Law.
He said this would complement the efforts of the various security agencies in the state.
According to him, over 5,000 youths will be engaged by the corps ,headed by retired Brig-Gen. Eric Angaye ,and trained in all aspects of security to curb criminal activities.
Diri said that the state-owned complementary security outfits – Bayelsa Vigilante and Bayelsa Volunteers – had been incorporated into the corps and their personnel would also be trained to make them more effective.
“Nigerians should be ready with their PVCs. The people of this country are the only ones that have the solution to all of the current challenges, so I call on them to get their PVC and vote in good leaders,” he said.
In his sermon, the guest minister and chairman of the state chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev. Tam-Seth Eyedoude, said democracy was not in the hands of any single man, court or diviners but in the hands of the people.
Eyedoude noted that peace could not reign without justice, just as democracy could not exist without respect for the people’s culture.
NAN reports that the first lesson of the service was taken by Gov. Diri, from the book of Psalms 142 vs 1-8.
Intercessory prayers were also offered for the 2023 general elections, the Bayelsa Government and the Federal Government.
Dignitaries at the service include wife of the governor, Justice Patience Diri, Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, father of the governor, Pa Michael Diri.
Some of the others were Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, national and state lawmakers, service commanders, religious and traditional leaders