PIB: How Sylva Helped Cut Host Community Fund To 3% – Dickson

Senator Serikae Dickson has opened up on how the minister of state, (Petroleum) Chief Timipire Sylva allegedly led a presidential team on a campaign that led to the reverse of the 5% fund for host communities in the just passed Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB.

Senator Dickson said that after South-South and Southern senators had successfully gotten a commitment from their colleagues to put the host community fund at 5% that Sylva met senators where he raised objections that that figure would be a disincentive for international oil companies.

That campaign Dickson said on Saturday led to senators cutting the original proposal to 3%.

In a statement made available to  GreenWhiteGreen GWG, Senator Dickson poohpoohed claims by Senator Eremienyon Degi, his counterpart from Bayelsa East, that his claim could cause violence in the Niger Delta region.

Senator Dickson’s claim followed a statement by Degi that Dickson lied when he faulted Sylva’s role in the decision to fix the host community fund at 3%.

A statement issued by Senator Dickson’s office on the former governor’s role in the matter and what he said at his press conference on Thursday that Degi faulted, read thus:

On the morning of the vote, the Senate leadership permitted the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and the GMD of the NNPC to highlight the technical aspects of the bill, which in retrospect proved inimical to South South’s quest for 5 percent as the presentation by the ministerial team clearly and strongly stated that anything other than 2.5 percent was going to drive away investors from oil industry.

Senator Dickson narrated this sequence of events for the  public to know that the southern Nigeria and the South-South senator’s had done a lot of work and were confident of the support of their colleagues, who had pledged support for the minimum of 5 percent. This was the point Senator Dickson stressed.

Senator Dickson further stated that the other senators they discussed with were willing to consider 5 percent which was why Senator Sabo Nakuru, lead chairman of the committee supported by his co-chairman Senator Albert Bassey  agreed and presented a report recommending 5 percent an effort we all appreciated.

Senator Dickson clarified further that the  dramatic change of opinion came after  the categorical briefing and statements made by the ministerial team led by Sylva. There were intense period of disagreement and consultations on the floor during which majority of Senators who had pledged 5 percent agreed to support 3 percent higher that the 2.5 percent proposed by the executive and defended by the ministerial team led by Chief Timipre Sylva.

When asked by a reporter why Sylva, a former Bayelsa Governor from the South South led the team to propose 2.5 percent against his own region and people, Senator Dickson declined comment and directed the reporter to redirect the question to Chief Sylva.

Senator Dickson’s statement was not a personal attack on the minister or anybody but a statement of fact unknown to the public which was relayed for better information and appreciation of the  efforts made by the South South senators to get at least 5 percent for the communities.

It is therefore difficult to understand the basis upon which Senator Degi would come up with such a curious publication accusing Senator Dickson of inciting violence.

Aware of the the recent political developments in Bayelsa, we urge Degi to live above his personal pains. He should refrain from spreading hatred, propaganda and falsehood. He should concentrate on making productive contributions to the development of his communities, state and indeed the Niger Delta.

If there are people who should know that Senator Dickson cannot be intimidated by mischief, propaganda and falsehood at the federal level, Degi and Sylva should know more than most. For his information, Dickson does not play petty politics by bringing local issues to blackmail people at the federal level. This is why in spite of the attacks on him, Senator Dickson has lived above them to try to show solidarity with all Bayelsans across party lines in the interest of our people.

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