By Akpokona Omafuaire

OPOROZA- A former governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson, has declared that the big players stealing the nation’s crude oil live in Lagos, Abuja, and other world capitals, and revealed the measures the Federal Government should take internationally and locally to thwart their operations.

He said if the government desires Mondayto stop the thievery, it should mobilise and tag the Nigerian stolen crude as blood diamond in the global arena.

Dickson, who represents the Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the Senate, stated this when he visited the traditional ruler of Gbaramatu Kingdom, His Majesty, Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketekpe, Agadagba, at Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, weekend.

High-level oil theft not by Ijaw youths

His words: “It (high-level oil theft) is not an Ijaw youths’ game, it is a game perpetrated by the big players, and they do not reside here. They are in Lagos, Abuja, and other world capitals, and I stand by that.

“I have said repeatedly, I am not saying it for the first time. It is a fact that is known to everybody. The Ijaw people who live in the creeks and strive day-to-day for economic livelihood in our polluted waterways cannot engage in the high-level operations that result in the daily loss of Nigerian crude produced from our place.

“Those who can compromise and infiltrate the national security system, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, (NNPCL) system, and the shuttle vessels are not Ijaw people.

“We do not even have the experience necessary in such operations, which is a high level operation that requires a lot of resources and coordination, funding, and international networking.

“If Nigeria is serious, the country has to step up its game in the international arena and push for the designation of Nigerian stolen crude as blood diamond, arising from the conflict in some states in West Africa.

“Nigeria has to push for that, but those that under-declare even that which is produced; refused to properly monitor and record what is made for over 50 to 60 years, should take the blame.
“The Ijaw youths, and harmless poor people without the capacity and technical know-how on how pipes operate, and how high voltage pipes can be tampered with, should not be made scapegoats. They do not have that technology.”

My visit to Gbaramatu

“I am here on a courtesy visit to the Agadagba to appreciate him, his council–of–-chiefs, and all those who support him to maintain order, peace, and stability. This kingdom is strategic to the Ijaw nation and the Niger-Delta region. Gbaramatu is very strategic to the nation’s development, I am here and have seen what they have done here.

…Commends
Tantita, Tompolo
“On the issue of Tantita, I want to thank my younger brother, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, for their efforts and contributions to stopping vandalism of strategic national assets.
“I want to thank him for reducing illegal bunkering as it is called, and for trying their best to eliminate the environmental degradation caused by refining activities and tampering with pipelines affecting our farmlands and causing spillage.

“I know the hard work they have done, and the best thing that the government and NNPCL have done is engaging Tantita and the man who understands the terrain. This is why he has been able to bring some semblance of normalcy though a lot still has to be done.

“I have seen development here myself, and I want to encourage him, and urge the president, the petroleum minister, NNPCL, and all of those working with him that the partnership needs to be strengthened, sustained, and expanded so that he can do more.”

Beyond oil pilfering, pipeline vandalism

“Stopping pilfering and pipeline vandalism is one thing, but we are also bothered about the degradation of our environment. We have an idea of how polluted our environment has become. This is where we live, and for the Ijaw man, this river is our life. So, polluting our waterways, rivers, and creeks is a major existential threat to our people.

“As you can see, this is a difficult terrain to develop. I am so humbled to be here and seeing all these development is a thing of joy to me, and those that came from Bayelsa state, which is the Jerusalem of the Ijaw nation.”

Dickson, a true Ijaw son — Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom

The Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom in his remarks, thanked Senator Dickson and his delegation for the duty call, stressing that a visit of this sort was important in building cordiality between the Ijaw people of the Niger Delta.
He described him as a true son of the Ijaw nation, saying his contributions alongside other illustrious sons of the Niger Delta have continued to take the Ijaw nation forward.
Speaking in his Ijaw dialect, the king prayed to God to bless the lawmaker, strengthen him to continue to deliver on his duties, and make contributions that would further develop the Ijaw nation.