Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa on Sunday asked the Federal Government to pay outstanding stipends to ex-militants even as he appealed to the latter to shelve planned protests over the issue.

The governor urged the ex-agitators to be calm and exercise patience with the Federal Government over the delay in the payment of their stipends.

The appeal was made in a statement issued in Yenagoa by the State Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Obuebite.

The statement quoted Dickson as advising all stakeholders in the Niger Delta struggle to “eschew violence and live in peace” as issues concerning their welfare would soon be addressed by the Federal Government.

He was also quoted as calling on the Presidential Amnesty Office to urgently pay whatever was due to the ex-agitators.

The Governor’s call is coming amidst plans by the ex-agitators to disrupt the peace and also attack national assets.

•Photo shows Governor Dickson.