From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Government and the All Progressives Congress( APC) are at loggerheads over activities of militant group, Niger Delta Avengers ( NDA).
While the APC said Governor Seriake Dickson and Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo, were behind NDA activities, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) absolved Dickson from the militants’ activities and insisted the allegation was an attempt to blackmail the governor and pit him against the Federal Government.
The APC, in a statement issued in Yenagoa via e-mail by the Publicity Secretary, Panebi Fortune, alleged that Dickson and Tompolo were the brains behind the NDA.
“As a party, we have deliberately refrained from making any statement over the ongoing economic terrorism in the Niger Delta not because we have no reason to do so but because we believe in the sanctity of dialogue.
‘’However, we were taken aback by the recent past verbal ruptures of governor Dickson, that leading lights in our party were behind the spate of insecurity in the region.
‘’Without looking elsewhere, it is clear that Dickson and his creek compatriot, Tompolo, were the same as the infamous Niger Delta Avengers who have been terrorising the nation’s economy.
“There is no other clearer means to know this is the fact that Dickson merely re-echoed what Tompolo had said two weeks ago in a widely circulated media publication.
“This is very unfortunate because we are aware of how Dickson hosted a meeting with former militant leaders Tompolo in attendance wherein they hatched this plot to return to the creeks if Jonathan did not win.
“We are convinced that Tompolo cannot extricate himself from the Avengers. It is his gimmick to come out and deny the group and attack after hours of such denials.
“This style to armtwist the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration will fail.”
In a swift reaction, PDP ‘s state chairman, Cleopas Moses described the allegation as spurious and called on Bayelsa APC and its leader, Chief Timipre Sylva to ask for forgiveness.
Cleopas, wondered why Dickson who is the chief security officer of a state, would condescend to such a low level by giving backing to a group that is clearly putting the nation in more economic woes.
“The APC leadership should be held responsible for ] atrocities perpetrated in Bayelsa State.
“We had earlier stated this position. What the APC should do at this time is to tell her thugs-used for the governorship elections and other miscreants to cooperate with government to entrench civility, peace and security and stop threatening the restoration administration with the use of federal might.
“Bayelsa APC was roundly rejected because of the criminal elements in the party and the ordinary people know where to point fingers when it comes at cultism, crime and criminality.
“Dickson had presided over series of meetings this week that was attended by multi-nationals, security chiefs, traditional rulers and other stakeholders where he openly condemned renewed attacks on oil facilities and security personnel and ask if the APC or its leader have issued any statement doing the same. Well, it is not surprising to us as their desire is obviously geared towards diverting the attention of security agencies to their direction as sponsors of these heinous crimes.
“This allegation is the height of mischief; we want Bayelsans and the Federal Government to ignore such blatant lie.
“Governor Dickson does not have any business with any militant group. He remains committed to his mandate given to him by the people.
“The APC is seeking unnecessary public sympathy, and cheap attention.”