With the hue and cry that greeted the recent meeting of Niger Delta war lords in Bayelsa State, a key member of the summit has said it was for the benefit of the Niger Delta in particular and the unity of the country in general.
Chief Peretimi Akari, Chairman of Bayelsa based Grassroots Initiatives, who spoke with the media in Lagos late Tuesday said; the real reason for the meeting was being misconstrued by The All Peoples Congress, APC, propaganda machinery.
Chief Akari said, “The central point of the meeting, which APC is shying away from, was to douse the tension being encouraged in the north, especially such inhuman treatment being meted out to President Goodluck Jonathan including Katsina, home state of APC flag bearer, Gen. Mohamadu Buhari.”
He stressed that, “It is against that background that the governor in his wisdom, got all to douse the tempo especially among the militant leaders. In fairness to my people, it is not fair for a political party to have a full day campaigning without being harassed, even in Bayelsa, home town of President Jonathan and other parts of Niger Delta, while a sitting president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria cannot move freely in certain parts of the country.
“Yet, prominent northerners like Theophilus Danjuma, whose wealth is from Niger Delta, kept mute, only to woke up and add his voice when a threat of retaliation emanated from Jonathan’s people. We want to say that it is on record that, the Bayelsa meeting was based on the strength of peace for a united country. It was to bring everybody together and calm frayed nerves, because we are not violent people. Yet we will want to sound it loud and clear that we will never be intimidated by any group of people, before, during and after the elections.”
Akari maintained that, It came natural for the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriaki Dickson; by the virtue of his position to host such an all-important meeting.
His words: “Though Dickson operates with a Pan Nigerian outlook, yet he remains a firm believer of the Ijaws that he has continued to serve wholeheartedly. As a result, all the violent movements look up to him, because by virtue of his office, as the governor of the only wholly Ijaw state in Nigeria, he remains their leader; a responsibility he never shirks, as he readily admitted at the meeting thus: ‘I have a duty to moderate and work with these people and earn their confidence for a stable Niger Delta, because without the stability of this region, there won’t be a stable Nigeria.”
Dickson reportedly told them during the recent meeting that, “The stability of Bayelsa is central to the stability of Niger Delta. And that will translate to the stability and unity of Nigeria, as anything to the contrary comes with great consequences to the world at large. So with that in mind, the recent meeting with some ex-warlord was to douse tension and the tempo in the region, especially with the purported endorsement of Buhari by MEND, and stoning of President Jonathan in the north.’
“At the meeting with all the militant leaders, including those who were not on talking terms, a resolution was arrived at for the stability of the state and that of the region. Expectedly, they expressed anger with the stoning and affirmed their support for President Goodluck Jonathan,” he posited
Akari explained that the governor also seized the opportunity to tell them of the need for them to get on the train and participate in the campaign without rancor.
His concern: “I’m surprised that APC propaganda machinery decided to lash on individuals’ comments, which are not new, instead of taking it from a better and broader aspect for the country’s interest. I repeat, our meeting was for the benefit of the country, for Dickson to intervene for the overall benefit of Nigeria. It is incumbent on him as the governor of Bayelsa State, it is good for Nigeria and not for any danger.”
He went further to explain that Dickson has no other choice than that to play the role because he is a product of Ijaw movement. His words: “Having served in Ijaw National Congress, INC, as national legal adviser, Dickson, who is also the Adaka 2, a progressive who hit the limelight as the national legal adviser of defunct Alliance for Democracy, AD.”
He further said that; “Governor Dickson, with a bit of activism from National Democratic Coalition Organisation, NADECO and AD, is of a progressive background, whose great grandmother, was Princess Olubukola of the Fidipote ruling house, and daughter of a reigning Oba Awuljale of Ijebu Land. Based on his nationalist demeanor, he made the Shehu of Borno the Chancellor of the state university. Little wonder he has continued using his vast network to galvanize needed supports for President Jonathan across the country.
“Apart from emerging as the National Legal Adviser of AD, such a person who worked for an AD to produce a senator, house of representative and members in the state house of assembly for the defunct progressive party can only be seen from a nationalist point of view.”
All these he achieved before assisting President Jonathan, who was then a deputy governor of Beyelsa State.
Akari recalled that Dickson had at the meeting reminded his people, especially the militants, that ‘This is not a time to war war, but jaw jaw, and build bridges of understanding across the country.’
It would be recalled that Governor Dickson, a grounded grassroots politician, with four others, had floated the Green Movement for Jonathan political evolution, with Dickson as the operational and strategic arrowhead, as he is known and well-respected by Bayelsans across board..
It is interesting to also note that while at the House of Representative, under Actions for Democracy, Dickson records remain indelible as chairman, House Committee on Legal Matters.  Dickson is better known by his circle of friends as an apostle of non-violence, and an advocate of progressive politicking, So it came as a little surprise when he emerged as the Attorney General, when Jonathan emerged as Bayelsa State governor.
Apart from his zero tolerance to corruption, Dickson brand of politics is all about service, as he will readily remind you of his ancestors who were ancient rulers and warriors, and that any child from such background must always serve his people diligently.
Dickson, a Prince of Tarakiri is from Kpadia Ruling House, and his great grandfather was the first king from that kingdom. That ensured that his ancestors were members of the then Western Region’s House of Chiefs in Ibadan, later in Midwest Region at Benin City, then at Rivers State before the creation of Bayelsa State.
He was born of Ijaw mother from Angiama in Delta State while his paternal grandmother hailed from Otor-Iyede in Isoko, also in Delta State.
Apart from having blood relatives in two major geo-political zones of the country, what makes Dickson a highly detribalized Nigerian is that, no politician of his age has the kind of national spread that he boasts of across political parties, tribes and religions.