Former Bayelsa Governor Senator Seriake Dickson has described the engagement of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited TSSNL by the Federal Government as “good” deed.
He spoke when he visited Oporoza, Headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State, adding that there was need to expand the firm’s coverage area to enable it do more for the country.
Dickson, who represents the Bayelsa West at the National Assembly, also commended the traditional ruler of the kingdom, His Majesty Oboro-Gbaraun Ii, Aketekpe, Agadagba and his subjects “for embracing government initiatives by maintaining order, peace and stability in the Niger Delta region”.
He applauded High Chief Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo, founder of Tantita “for his uncommon patriotism in the fight against crude oil theft as well as curbing environmental degradation in the region, thus restoring aquatic lives to the Niger Delta waters”.
Accompanied by several political associates and supporters from Bayelsa state, the ex-Governor said he was on a courtesy visit to Gbaramatu Kingdom to formally express solidarity with the people, describing them as his kinsmen.
Noting that Gbaramatu Kingdom is “a very strategic part of Ijaw nation, Niger Delta and Nigeria”, Dickson appreciated the people and Tantita for the contributions being made in stopping vandalism to strategic national assets within the territory and also for reducing illegal bunkering and environmental degradation occasioned by the illegal refineries and those operating it.
He said: “The good thing that the Federal Government and the NNPC and all the agencies have done is by engaging a man who understands the physical terrain and also the operating environment. All the systems he knows them. And that’s why he and his people have been able to bring some semblance of normalcy.
“A lot still has to be done so, I want to encourage him now that I am here. I have seen development myself. I want to encourage him to do more.
“I thank the President, the Petroleum Ministry and the NNPC and all of them for working with him. I think that that partnership needs to be strengthened and sustained and expanded so that Tantita can do more.
“Stopping pilfering and crude oil vandalism is one thing. But we are also bothered about environmental degradation of our region. This is our area. This is where we live. And for the Ijaw man, these rivers you see is our life because our lives depend on our waters. Hence, polluting our waterways, our rivers and our creeks is a major existential threat to our people.
“And so, we thank Tompolo and his colleagues in Tantita and encourage the security agencies to collaborate more with them and NNPC to strengthen that partnership and extend it so that they can do more for our people”.
Responding, the traditional ruler of Gbaramatu kingdom, His Majesty Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketekpe, Agadagba expressed gratitude to the former Governor of Bayelsa State for the visit, imploring him to be closer to the Kingdom being an Ijaw leader himself.