Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Government has directed that henceforth no person or group of persons or organisation is allowed the use of state-owned public spaces and parks, particularly the Peace Park without due application and subsequent approval.Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Iti Orugbani, who spoke on behalf of the state government, made this known in a statement on Sunday.Orugbani said, “It has come to the notice of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Culture and Tourism that some individuals and groups now use the state government-created public spaces and parks without the required authorisation and permit of the government.”We hereby direct that henceforth, no person or group of persons or organisation, is allowed the use of state-owned public spaces and parks, particularly the Peace Park, without due application and subsequent approval from the ministry.”He said the directive had become necessary in order to check nefarious activities and other illegal acts perpetrated by unauthorised persons at the government’s public spaces and parks.The commissioner further asked the public to note that he had not given approval to any organisation or group to use the Peace Park as a convergence point for any social, economic or political activities or protest march. He therefore enjoined any organisation intending to use the Peace Park to seek the due authorisation of the state government before doing so.He urged all concerned to note that security operatives had been put on notice to enforce the directive.Â