By NATHAN NWAKAMMA

Leaders and stakeholders in the Niger Delta have applauded the Interim Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), retired Col. Milland Dixon Dikio, for honouring the late activist, Tony Uranta.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the leaders, under the auspices of the Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG), made their position known in a statement on Friday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

They described the recent role played by Dikio during the burial of Uranta and his visit to the late activist’s widow as commendable.

The National Coordinator, IMG, Joseph Evah who signed the statement, noted that the Dikio’s decision to award Uranta’s daughter a scholarship, was a commendable gesture that had brought immeasurable feeling of satisfaction to the deceased’s family.

Evah, who is also a former Spokesman, Ijaw National Congress (INC), said Dikio’s benevolence and disposition to honour persons who had made sufficient sacrifices for the region, rekindled their commitment to the struggle for a better Niger Delta.

He said such a befitting gesture for Uranta would not be forgotten and asked other public office holders from the region to emulate the PAP boss to ensure that persons who fought for a better Niger Delta did not die in vain.

He said: “We see such things only in Yoruba land. Heroes of Yoruba land are always honoured. They don’t joke with those who have sacrificed for their generation and that is why God is blessing them.

“They value their heroes. Don’t you see how they honour MKO Abiola, which has made the Federal Government to recognise June 12 as Democracy Day?

“So what Dikio has done, we are more than grateful. It is a big reference point because Tony Uranta did a lot for the Niger Delta.

“We thank Dikio for visiting the family, awarding scholarship to his daughter and also for the contribution he made during his burial.

“His presence was felt. With such gestures, the widow and the entire family will not regret the sacrifices he made for a better Niger Delta.

“The gesture will inspire more people to do their best for the region, knowing that there is hope even when they are gone.

“In order to give comfort to the family and even to us, especially activists in the region, others in government should learn from Dikio”.

Evah appraised Dikio’s ongoing Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM) scheme, saying it had brought stability to the region and would guarantee generational wealth to the people.

“It is one of the greatest legacies. We appreciate that. Train people and after the training, they are not idle. This has brought salvation to the boys. A fantastic idea.

“All the people trained previously are very idle. If not for the stipends there would have been another crisis. After training them without jobs where will they go to?

“So, TEM has reduced the tension and a big relief to us because these boys keep crying to us and we were telling them that a visionary leader will emerge and we are seeing one now in Dikio.

“Nobody should disturb Dikio and his job in PAP because now we have big hope in the new leadership. That is why we are giving him all the encouragement for him to make his mark and succeed.

“He is preparing the next generation and next set of wealthy entrepreneurs. We will continue to work with him to sustain it.” (NAN)

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