21st March, 2015
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Bayelsa State governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson on Friday in Yenagoa threatened to deal with any person or group of persons masquerading as ex-militants or whatever name trying to form parallel government under his leadership in the state.
Governor Dickson read the riot act during an interactive session with the Chiefs and leaders of Oil and Gas host and transit communities against the backdrop of restiveness of ex-militants who have been breaching the peace of the state over surveillance pipeline contract awarded by the Federal Government to ex-militants.
Speaking at the occasion, the governor, emphasized that, such persons will be dealt with according to the law, using the instruments of the government, adding that, his administration will never succumb to threats and intimidation from any group of persons because of NNPC pipeline surveillance contract.
He noted that, the government has the goodwill to give the ex-militants 50 per cent of the contract, but insisted that they must ensure the delivery of their required obligation.
According to him, the Izon Ibe Security outfit, which was set up by the state government will soon be launched in the interest of the entire citizenry of the state, with a mandate to provide massive employment for the youths.
He stated that Izon Ibe Security will be based in areas, where there are oil pipelines in order to create room for proper identification and give adequate accountability, where there are lapses.
“Last year, we set up Izon Ibe Security as our own security that will be community based and the difference is that, it’s government owned. We have training programmes and also intended that traditional rulers make input, so that there will be identification to know those involved and their respective communities.
“Our ex-militants are trying to create chaos and those days when they were forming parallel government is no more because we shall follow them up by the law and we shall not be intimidated.
The governor described Bayelsa as the hub of the Niger Delta, pointing out that, once it is inflamed in violence, it will affect the entire region and by implication the country as a whole.
Governor Dickson informed the audience that, training programmes would soon be reeled out as well as recruitment of persons, who are interested on surveillance duties, with recommendations from community chiefs and leaders.
He noted with delight that Izon Ibe security organisation shall churn out professional security officers that will be co-opted into most oil and gas outfits in the state and will generate funds to cater for their payment without stressing the government.
The governor also mentioned that, there was the urgent need to resolve the issues of oil and gas, because of the forthcoming elections.
In his remarks, the JTF Commander, Major General Emmanuel Atewe said, there can be no development in the state without peace and that peace is needed to harness the multiple opportunities in the state as one of the richest states in oil and gas.
General Atewe noted that, it was in their own interest to support the government by protecting critical assets.
On his part, the Chairman of Bayelsa State Council of Traditional rulers, King Alfred Diette Spiff stated that the state should not allow the unwholesome and selfish interests of a few to thrive at the expense of the overriding interest of all.
Last week, hundreds of ex-militants in the state grounded both economic and social activities of the state when they blocked the Mbiama-Yenagoa road and engaged the state Police command destroying on of it patrol vehicles while protesting that the state government hijacked the Federal government’s NNPC pipeline surveillance contract.