Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
A former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Henry Dickson yesterday faulted allegation by his colleague from Bayelsa East, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo that he was instigating violence in the Niger Delta.
Dickson, currently representing Bayelsa West in the Senate, clarified that his statement was not a personal attack on the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.
He made this clarification during an interactive session with journalists at the weekend, pledging to support the minimum of 5 percent as a result of these interactions.
Degi-Eremienyo had, in a statement, accused Dickson of alleging that the petroleum minister was responsible for reducing the five per cent host community fund to 3 per cent.
But Dickson insisted that his utterance was not a personal attack on the minister or anybody but a statement of fact unknown to the public which was relayed for better information and appreciation of the efforts made by the South-south senators to get at least 5 percent for the communities.
“It is therefore difficult to understand the basis upon which the senator would come up with such a curious publication accusing Senator Dickson of inciting violence.
“If there are people who should know that Senator Dickson cannot be intimidated by mischief, propaganda and falsehood at the federal level, Degi-Eremienyo and Sylva should know more than most,” the statement noted.
He stressed that it is now common knowledge that the oil producing communities, the entire Niger Delta and all well meaning Nigerians are outraged by the reduction of the host community funds and other sections in the PIB now passed.
Describing his personal view as rational, he noted that the 2 percent difference was not worth the tension, challenges and uncertainties, adding that the increased security expenses and hostilities would be more than the 2 percent reduction.
“A sustainable future for investors and the communities lies in first getting the good will and support of the host communities. The PIB is the first law that is giving oil producing communities direct funding.
“It is a historic development which we must get right and it would be better to start with the full cooperation and support of the communities,” he stressed.
Dickson further tasked the senator to explain why and in what way and for what reason and purpose he would be envious of Sylva.
The senator representing Bayelsa East, in his earlier reaction to Dickson had also said the comments by the former governor smacked of envy, mischief and intimidation by the “astronomical rising profile of Sylva.”
