From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
AMID preparations by the Nigeria military to commence a strategic operation codenamed ‘Operation Crocodile Smiles’ to halt the bombing of oil facilities and threats to the territorial integrity of Nigeria by militants, Governor Seriake Dickson has again cautioned the Federal Government against the militarisation of the Niger Delta.
Dickson had after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja last week advised the Federal Government to explore the dialogue option to resolve the Niger Delta problem.
Indications emerged at the weekend that military clampdown was imminent during the visit of the Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan-Alli and the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen eral Abayomi Olonisakin.
Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson in a statement said Dickson noted that dialogue remained the best option to solve the problem.
The governor who made the observation in Warri, Delta State, during a meeting of Ijaw leaders and elders of thought to brainstorm on the way forward appaluded Ijaw leaders for championing the cause of the people.
He urged them to work together for peaceful co-existence of the region and the country as a whole.
The statement said the meeting was attended by Ijaw leader and First Republic Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark; Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro; former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Sir Gabriel Toby and former Minister of Aviation, Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas.
Others are former Executive Director (Finance) in Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Pastor Power Aginighan; President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Chief Boma Obuoforibo; former chairman, Bayelsa State Flood Committee, Chief Francis Doukpola; Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom, King Joseph Timiyan and Amakosu of Ogbe- Ijoh, Warri Kingdom, King Kopul Ermine.
Dickson was quoted as saying he was at the meeting “to lend support to the on-going discussions for the enthronement of peace, stability and development of the Niger Delta area.”
Ijaw leaders and elders, he said, had always provided leadership and support to the various state governments where the Ijaw people were domiciled towards strengthening the bond of unity and protection of the collective interests of the Ijaw nation.
Dickson reiterated his administration’s preparedness to contribute its quota to the wellbeing and development of the Ijaw nation as leader of the only homogeneous state for the Ijaw people.