By Abisola THOMPSON
An oil services firm in Bayelsa, Darlon Security and Guards Ltd., has denied allegations of engaging in political acts levelled against it by Gov. Seriake Dickson.
Dickson had alleged that security personnel attached to the surveillance contractors were being used for political purposes, and set up a panel to investigate their operations at oilfields within Bayelsa.
The governor on Feb. 10 inaugurated a six-member commission of inquiry to probe the activities of surveillance contractors in the state and submit its findings and recommendations within 21 days.
The commission is being chaired by retired Justice Margaret Akpomiemie with, Dele J. Dele as its counsel and Anthony Obrike, SP Whoknows Tiger, AC Christiana Okafor and Ebikake Ebikipah as members.
Reacting, the firm in said in Yenagoa in a statement by the firm’s Head of Operations, Mr Wilson Clifford, that the state government’s allegations against the chairman of the firm, Mr David Lyon, was frivolous and unfounded.
The firm described the allegations as “Political witch-hunt targeted at opposition politicans and shows the height of desperation on the side of the state government, without appreciating the positive contributions made by the firm to the state.
It noted that the allegation was a frantic bid to pull down Lyon, whose only crime was being a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC.).
The firm said that rather than being commended for taking over 5,000 youths out of the creeks of the state and provided employment thereby reducing the crime rate, the firm was being blackmailed.
It observed that the diligence with which it executes its operations in line with terms of reference, has resulted to a boost in oil production and boosted Bayelsa’s oil derivation revenue.
According to the firm, its effective strategy has eliminated criminal activities from the creeks in Bayelsa under the supervision of regulatory security authorities and makes it impossible to commit any illegality as alleged.
“It is an established fact that the entire Swamp Area of Bayelsa, with notoriety for crude oil theft, illegal refineries and pipeline vandalism in the past, is now a haven of peace.
“This is attributable to the operations of Darlon Security and Guards Ltd. We therefore, take exception to Gov. Dickson’s phantom allegations against us.
“If the about 5, 000 persons employed by Darlon Security and Guards Ltd, is what Gov. Dickson considers as running a parallel government, then we plead guilty to providing livelihood for thousands of Bayelsans.
“We’d like to state unequivocally, that our chairman, Hon. David Lyon is a peace-loving man, who has never engaged in any act of terrorism and would never engage in such an act.
“Darlon Security and Guards Ltd, is not new to these kinds of spurious politically motivated allegations, we have been vindicated in the past, and shall continue to be vindicated, as these allegations are simply products of Dickson’s imaginations.
“We strongly advise Gov. Dickson to free himself from his petty and vindictive brand of politics, being a so called `true Ijaw man’ as he is being referred to by his close friends.
“Darlon Security and Guards Ltd will continue to work within the ambit of the laws of the land as always.
“We pledge to continually remain law abiding in our dearly beloved state and nation, and will strive continuously to protect our before-now ravaged environment, and improve on the livelihood of our people,” it added.===NAN
