Dickson to militants: Stop scaring investors from Niger Delta

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has told militants and other criminal elements to stop scaring investors and visitors in the Niger Delta region.



Dickson insisted that the survival and economy of the region depended heavily on peace and stability of various communities in the Niger Delta.

The governor spoke at a state banquet held at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Hall, Government House, Yenagoa as part of activities marking the 20th anniversary of Bayelsa creation.

The event, held at the weekend, was attended by founding fathers of the state, leaders and elders from various communities, state executive council members, members of the state House of Assembly, religious leaders, security heads and traditional rulers.

Two globally-celebrated achievers in their disciplines, foremost historian, Prof. Ebiegberi Joe Alagoa and a literary giant, Dr. Gabriel Okara, who hail from the state, were isolated among other elders and given distinguished icon awards by the governor.

Alagoa and Okara unveiled volumes of books containing collections of speeches titled, the Art of Delivery, the Power of Delivery, Unique Strides of Delivery, Restoration Unveiled and Ofurumapepe: the Return of the Great White Shark.

The books were collection of Dickson’s speeches compiled by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson.

Dickson lamented that the Niger Delta was bleeding because of the activities of some “misguided people from within and without.”

He said businesses including enterprises that had existed for a decade were relocating from the region because of the nefarious activities of criminal elements.

He said: “It is unfortunate that a few misguided people from within and without continue to engage in activities capable of scaring investors and visitors to this region.

“The region is bleeding. Businesses already established even for decades are relocating and meanwhile the irony of it is that our economic prosperity and survival depend on peace and stability in our communities, in our state and in our region.”

He, however, said that Bayelsa remained the most secured state in the Niger Delta despite the challenges in the region.