An oil services firm in Bayelsa State, Darlon Security and Guards Ltd, has denied allegations purportedly made by the State Governor, Seriake Dickson, that it was engaging in political activities.

Governor 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 State.

The Governor on February 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 chaired by Justice Margaret Akpomiemie (rtd) with Dele J. Dele as its counsel and Anthony Obrike, Whoknows Tiger, Christiana Okafor and Ebikake Ebikipah as members.

Reacting to this development, the firm in a statement in Yenagoa by its Head of Operations, Mr. Wilson Clifford, described the state government’s allegations against the chairman of the firm, Mr. David Lyon, as frivolous and unfounded.

The firm described the allegations it as “political witch-hunt targeted at opposition politicians and (also) 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 is that he a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The firm stated 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.

The firm 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 State, 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 Governor 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 (hitherto) ravaged environment, and improve on the livelihood of our people,” it added.

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