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Tag: ex-militant leader

  • Day ex-militant leader donates to 500 widows, gives scholarship to students

    Veteran  actors and the Okrika Council of Chief have commended ex-militant leader High Chief Ateke Tom for showing love to  500 widows  in Okrika, Rivers State  through the provision of food items, wrappers and scholarship to students

    As one of the activities marking his birthday,  Tom, who is fondly called Daddy by his people, donated rice,  noodles, soaps, wrappers, salt, oil and other  items to the widows in the area.

    Two days before the date with the widows, the ex-militant leader also gave scholarship to five students in the tertiary institutions and five students in primary and secondary school. There are also many who are acquiring different kind of skills under his sponsorship.

    Mrs. Patience Uzokwo, popularly known as Mama G,  and Gentle Jack led popular Nollywood actors to the occasion. Others are friends,  Ijaw Youth National President, former and present council chairman of the area and members of Okrika council of chief.

    Declaring the event open, the chairman, Okrika Council of Chief, Chief Biriowu Opuayaraya said every historical event is led by great men, adding that Ateke is one of the great men in Okrika.

    He said Okrika people was proud to have Tom as its son.

    Opuayaraya said: “We are happy that a great man is leading this great history in our own time. The widows are happy and they are going to pray for him. If you look at the guests present you would know that Ateke Tom is the face of the world. Through him these well known guests are in Okrika today.

    “This is not the first time he is assisting the widows, the orphans and many others who come to him for help. Those who knew him will tell you that this is his nature, he is not doing it for political reason or to impress anybody but for the sake of humanity.”

    Mama  G, who addressed the widows on behalf of others Nollywood stars , called on politicians and privileged individuals to support and respect women whose husbands have died.

    Mama G said: “I want to inform you that  as a widow that  there was a time in my life that I could not find what to eat. What remain was to cook  sand as rice and give it to my children to eat.

    “I want to call on politicians and privilege individuals in the country to help widows in our society. I advise every woman to ensure that they train their children well, both male and female, in fear of God because tomorrow they will stand for you.

    “I also urge men to try and respect and support widows because they are going through difficult times. Some of these women are not remarried because of the respect they have for their late husbands. All of us as widows thank Chief Ateke for remembering us.”

    One of the widows, Mrs. Charity Jack who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, said God would keep Tom alive to continue his good charity, “Nothing will happen to you, God has always protect those who feed the destitute and widows. So our prayer is that God will not allow you to die before your time.

    “What you gave widows today may be little in the eyes of the people but it is great in the eyes of the widows who have nobody to help them. Because you have remembered us God will remember you and give you many more years.”

    Tom said he is worried with the pain women undergo in training and fending for their children after their husbands’ death.

    He said: “Today is my birthday; it is not a day I make long speech, it is a day to honour my creator and show love to those around me. People should always know that there is somebody somewhere; some are your neighbour who needs your help. Learn to lift the burden of other people; to be frank it gives me joy each time I gave a token to someone in need of help.”

  • Why FG must not dialogue with avengers, by ex-militant leader

    Why FG must not dialogue with avengers, by ex-militant leader

    The federal government has been advised not to dialogue with the Niger Delta Avengers to prevent upsurge of such groups.

    National President, National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, NCNDE-A Israel Akpodoro gave the advice yesterday, in Abuja.

    He warned that any attempt to dialogue with the militants would give rise to more troublesome groups.

    Akpodoro said the new militant groups, including the Egbesu Water Lions, had engaged in renewed hostilities among which were attacks on the nation’s oil pipelines.

    He carpeted Ijaw elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark for advising President Muhammadu Buhari to meet with the new militants for dialogue.

    Clark, according to Akpodoro, should make it a responsibility to persuade the militants to sheath their sword and embrace peace.

    He added that the statesman should justify his advice by producing ?Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a. Tompolo, who had been summoned severally by the federal government.

    The ex-militant alleged ?that new agitators were drawn from the league of ex-militants on the payroll of the amnesty programme.

    He questioned how long the federal government will continue to declare amnesty in the region, amidst prevailing economic situation.

    “?The neo militant groups were directly under the command of accused Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo so those calling for dialogue should produce him to the FG before having the moral rectitude to call for dialogue.

    “Acting like father to economic saboteurs and forming protective ring around criminals in the region won’t do us any good at this critical period of our nationhood.

    “Hiding under the cloak of dialogue to part criminals on the back by giving them amnesty is a dubious thing to ask for.

    How many times have youth in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo States blown up pipelines to stampede federal government into granting them amnesty?”

    Akpodoro described the attackers of oil pipelines as demagogues and evil doers out to foment trouble to stampede the federal government into paying them amnesty.

     

  • What we expect from Buhari, by ex-militant leader

    What we expect from Buhari, by ex-militant leader

    The President of National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, NCNDE-A, Israel Akpodoro, in this interview with Dele Anofi, said President Muhammadu Buhari owes it a duty to appoint nominees of the All Progressives Congress (APC) into positions.

    You led a group that endorsed the President leading it to campaign for him in the Niger Delta region, how has the journey into the era of change being especially as it concerns government patronage?

    Yes, the change is here and it has come to stay permanently. Nigerians voted exactly for the services being rendered by the President and we are pleased for the fact that Nigerians are having the values for their votes.

    We in the APC are behind the President’s efforts at the ongoing economic recovery. The economy was grounded by the 16 years misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and revamping an economy that was a victim of reckless looting is not easy to fix.

    So, the President had made some not too good appointments but there is room to make amendments because apologists of the failed PDP have infiltrated the ranks of the broom party.

    Are you saying the President made wrong appointments?

    Not entirely wrong but most of the appointees aren’t loyal members of the party. For instance, an appointee of the APC who appoints a PDP die hard as aide is not loyal and hasn’t the interest of the party at heart. In view of this, the president would have to work with the party to ensure that only loyal party men and women are given appointment.

    In Delta State where you are based, how is the party faring?

    The party is doing well and trying to build a strong structure preparatory to 2019 election. The strength of a party is to build a formidable structure capable of winning election at all levels.

    This is what the Prophet Jones Erue-led APC is doing in the state with Olorogun Otega Emerhor, financially supporting the party structure. Unlike the PDP, APC wins victory at the polls but not capture victory.

    Still on political patronage, would you say appointments into position by the APC-led Federal Government have been satisfactory so far especially in the Niger Delta?

    No, appointments by the Buhari-led FG haven’t met the desires of many. It is lopsided because your appointments concentrated in one ethnic nation at the detriment of others.

    In Delta State for instance, it’s obvious that the Ikas are the major beneficiaries of the appointments here ditto Rivers state and others.

    Does it mean other nationalities in Delta state are being marginalised?

    No, the Urhobo, Itsekiri, Isoko and Ndokwa people aren’t marginalised but are in the waiting to be appointed. We all worked for the emergence of this government and we must be appointed. Urhobo people are APC faithfulls  and must be patronised by this administration.

    Why?

    I, for instance defy all odds to declare and work for Buhari when the heat was high. For the purpose of Buhari’s election I founded the Urhobo Youth Forum for Change, UYFC which like a wild fire spread through Urhobo land and we won a large followership for the broom party.

    In addition, I founded and funded the National Coalition for Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, NCNDE-A, a platform used by notable ex-militants to support and campaign the APC and its presidential candidate into power. These actions of mine opened me up for attacks before the presidential elections and the success of the party’s outing attracted envy and subsequent blackmail against those of us who stuck out our necks to work for the APC in criminal grandstanding

    In conspiracy with some greedy members of the ruling party, members of the opposition engage in lies, blackmail and outright campaign of calumny against most of us so as to gain vantage positions in a government they fought tooth and nail to stop it’s emergence. You reap where you sow but in this dispensation that adage holds no meaning because the opposition now stands better chances than those of who brought APC to power.

    Why have you not been appointed?

    The president is only taking his time and I am sure that very soon everyone who worked for Buhari will be appointed. We are all aware that there are many positions that are yet to be filled and loyalists of the party are waiting for the President to appoint those recommended by the party.

    When the time of God comes, I would be appointed but the President should listen to the leadership of our party and appoint only those recommended by the party.

    What’s your take on the fight against corruption by this administration?

    Nigerians gave the President the mandate to uproot corruption from our system as a nation and he’s doing just that. As against the magic expected by the PDP and its apologists, the president has done a lot to win the solidarity and support by the Nigerian people. PDP doesn’t believe in change and it becomes amoral for the forces of retrogressive transformation to question in a nation the same party brought to its knees.

    Therefore, the President through the EFCC should go all out and recover every illicit proceeds of loot from the enemies of the Nigerian people.

  • Amnesty Programme in good hands, says ex-militant leader

    Mr. Kinsgley Muturu is the Delta State chairman of ex-militants under Phase 2 of the Amnesty Programme. In this interview, he spoke on the allegation of corruption raised against the Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd) and other issues.

    Recently, it was announced that the expiring date of the amnesty programme is shifted to 2017: what is your reaction to this development?

    We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for listening to the various calls and appeals made to him over the amnesty programme. We really appreciate him for this gesture; he has shown to Nigerians that he is listening to their voices. We also appreciate the efforts of Brig-Gen. Boroh because there is no smoke without fire. He has given us the confidence that the time Mr. President spent shopping for a credible person to head the amnesty office was not a waste. We say thank you Mr. President, we appreciate your efforts Brig-Gen Boroh.

    But recently, the African Anti-Corruption Network has called for the immediate removal of the Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Mr.

    Boroh, from office, over allegations of corruption; where do you stand on this development?

    My reaction to that allegation is that they have started again; the lobbyists and appointment seekers have sent their foot soldiers out for war again, and we are ready for them. I mean we ex-agitators are ready for them to whichever length they are ready to go. We really know that many people were disappointed, particularly politicians and blackmailers, when Mr. President appointed Boroh to head the amnesty office. All the lobbyists and hustlers failed woefully because Mr. President was looking for credibility. If this so-called Network’s stock-in-trade is to blackmail or carry out smear campaign against Boroh in order to distract him from what he is doing, then we will come out for them because we are the beneficiaries of what Boroh is trying to put in place.

    What are those things Boroh is trying to put in place?

    Boroh has shown us through his actions that he is painstakingly executing the amnesty programme to a successful end. He has gone ahead with the plan to open offices in various Niger Delta States in order to bring his office closer to the people concerned; he has also made it clear before the whole world his plan to empower and disengage successfully trained ex-agitators, which is in accordance with the amnesty agreement. These and other activities bordering the programme have clearly shown his determination to take the programme to a successful end.

    Also, I want Nigerians to ask, who does this anti-corruption Network want in replacement of Boroh in their campaign of calumny? What is the interest of these Network personalities in the amnesty programme? We are now assured that President Buhari did not disappoint us with the appointment of Boroh to head the amnesty office, and the time spent shopping for a credible personality was not wasted. If Mr. President had appointed a politician who would come and play politics with the affairs of the programme, by this time we would have been complaining but the reverse is the case now; we are happy that Boroh is moving the programme as expected.

    So, you mean the allegations from the anti-corruption Network were

    Politically-motivated?

    The interest of this anti-corruption Network in the affairs of the Amnesty Programme will not succeed. I personally believe that people in that agency must be corrupt for daring to carry out a slander against somebody trying his best to bring the best out of the Amnesty Programme in order to take it to its permanent destination. Calling yourselves anti-corruption Network does not make you holier than others, and anybody trying to disturb smooth running of the programme under Boroh should be prepared for us. We know they have started again to distract the running of the programme as they did before, and we are ready for them. I, particularly, am readier than them because we will always resist their antics. I advised them to steer clear from the Amnesty Programme.

     

  • Ex-militant leader: Buhari won’t stop Amnesty Programme

    The National President, National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators (NCNDE-A), Israel Akpodoro, has said President-elect Muhammadu Buhari will not scrap the Amnesty Programme.

    He described the fear as generally misplaced.

    Akpodoro said the fear was created by those who were averse to change in the country.

    The Urhobo-born ex-militant stated that the alleged plan to scrap the amnesty programme was used to whip up ex-militants’ sentiment.

    Akpodoro said he threw his weight behind the candidature of the retired General because he was sure he would rule with the fear of God.

    He said his open fight against some ex-militant leaders over their threat to go to war if President Goodluck Jonathan lost re-election made him enemies.

    He alleged that “ethnocentric, boastful, questionable…ex-militants” launched vitriolic attacks on him and other members of the NCNDE-A   following the adoption of Gen. Buhari

    He accused some ex-militant leaders of distorting history by giving the credit of the establishment of Amnesty Program to Dr Jonathan instead of his late boss, President Umar Yar’Adua, who was the initiator and the executor of the genuine and purpose-driven amnesty program.

    General Buhari he noted has never contemplated scrapping the program but would rather strengthen it to make it more productive and goal oriented unlike what it is today. “The incoming administration must be allowed to ?settle down to work with the support of all Nigerians just like the NCE-A has decided to support the APC administration every inch of it journey through success.”

    He said, late President Umar Yar’Adua initiated a genuine amnesty program for the restive youth population in the region in his Phase 1 amnesty program and not his successor.

    “Pastor Wilson and his cohorts stood the truth on its head in their misappropriation of credit?. It was the late Umar Yar’Adua, who initiated and executed the genuine amnesty program in phase 1, before this incumbent government established phase 2 and 3 which ofcourse is directly opposite the Phase 1 in execution and intention.

    “While phase 1, was all inclusive, well managed in equity, that of Phase 2 and 3, were for only President Jonathan’s kinsmen and cronies.” Akpodoro stated.

    re the operators to a quite part of the cities and rob them.

  • I’m not involved, says ex-militant leader  

    I’m not involved, says ex-militant leader  

    The Leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo, has denied involvement in the $9.3 million botched arms deal in South Africa.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday urged the Federal Government to explain the ex-militant leader’s involvement in the deal.

    Asari-Dokubo spoke to reporters on telephone from Saudi Arabia where he is performing the  Hajj.

    According to him, he was in Nigeria at the time of the incident before moving to Saudi Arabia.

    He said he had not been to South Africa since 2002.

     ”Can you enter any country without a visa? I’m in Saudi Arabia performing my Hajj as the Amirul Hajj of Bayelsa State and this can be confirmed. I flew Flynass from Kaduna on September 27.

    My passport is here. I flew Arik airline from Lagos on 27th and went to Kaduna where I flew Flynass airline to Saudi Arabia.