What I told Buhari about Niger Delta Avengers – Governor Dickson

– Governor Seriake Dickson paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja

– He said he advised the president against military operation to tackle militacny

– He suggested dialogue as a lasting solution

The governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson has revealed that he advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to employ military operation against Niger Delta Avengers.

The group has claimed responsibility for series of bombing of oil and gas pipelines in the region thereby reducing the production of oil and its revenue in the country.

READ ALSO: Governor Okowa laments effect of militant activities in Delta

Dickson who paid a visit to the president on Wednesday, July 27 at the Presidential Villa said he advised the president that dialogue was the best method to deal with the militants.

This was in reaction to statement credited to the chief of army staff Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai who vowed that if negotiation with the militants fail, military operation would be employed.

Dickson said dialogue would help to unite all the stakeholders and provide a lasting solution to the problem.

Dickson said: “I have said that the issues in the Niger Delta, the terrain, the historic nature of the issues and challenges are such that military solution may not be the way forward. ‎

“For us who are products of political system, who are at this level, we have a duty to mobilise communal and local leadership; we have a duty to support the work security agencies are doing, we have a duty to ensure that issues are better appreciated and that we bridge the communication gap.

“Where there are issues, those issues need to be addressed and is also our duty to network like I am doing to ensure that problems that are identified as the route cause of some of these challenges are looked into.

READ ALSO: Governor Seriake Dickson visits President Buhari

“The military solution as I have always maintained is not the right option. We are hopeful that the ongoing discussions will yield the desired result.

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