The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ex-militants

  • Dickson: we won’t surrender surveillance contract to ex-militants

    Dickson: we won’t surrender surveillance contract to ex-militants

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson said yesterday  his administration would not surrender the state’ share of the pipeline surveillance contract to ex-militants  and their leaders.

    The governor insisted that the decision mandating the state-owned Izon-Ibe Security Company to execute the job was taken in the best interest of the state.

    A statement by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson said the governor spoke at the 26th meeting of the State Security Council in Yenagoa.

    He debunked claims made by some ex-militants that, the government hijacked the project, which was meant for them to execute.

    Ex-militants on Friday engaged in violent protest in Yenagoa accusing the governor of cornering contracts meant for them through Izon Ibe.

    But Dickson who denied the allegation said rather than allow few persons to benefit at the expense of the generality of youths in the state, the security outfit would drive a community-based recruitment process to engage willing and able young people to secure pipelines and other oil facilities.

    According to the Governor, the security company would soon call for applications from interested youths at the grassroots, particularly oil producing communities.

    He said the company would give shortlisted persons the requisite training that would enable them to discharge their duties effectively.

    He, therefore, called on the youths to be wary of disgruntled elements, who just want to use them as cannon fodders to achieve their selfish interests and create crisis in the state.

    His words: “Let me say that this government is of the view that the state-owned Izon-Ibe security company was set up to make it possible for young people in all the communities and particularly the youths and community leaders of communities that are producing oil resources, including those that harbour other facilities to be carried along.

    “We don’t believe that only few people can render that surveillance service in all the local government areas of our state.

    “And, so we’ve taken that decision in good faith, and I like to use this opportunity to again call on the youths of our state, not to be misguided by certain desperate elements, who want to create crisis and unnecessary division and trouble in our State.”

    He added: “The company will reach out to them (youths) in no distant time, so that those who are interested will apply to be gainfully engaged after training and it is going to be community-driven, because we want to know those, who are protecting our facilities”.

    Also the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Paul Okafor asked aggrieved individuals or groups to explore legitimate means to express their grievances rather than threaten to cause breakdown of law and order.

    The police commissioner warned the people of the state, particularly the youths to shun violence and other vices.

    He reaffirmed the commitment of the security agencies to maintaining the exist peace and tranquility in Bayelsa State.

  • ‘Fed Govt right to award security contracts to ex-militants ‘

    ‘Fed Govt right to award security contracts to ex-militants ‘

    Rowland Oritsejafor, a Minister of Defence (state) during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, has ‘resurfaced’ after a long hiatus from the political scene. He spoke with journalists in Warri on diverse issues, including politics and award of contracts to former Niger Delta militants. SHOLA O’NEIL was there.

    n how to deal with post-election violence

    I think the Federal Government has taken the right step in dealing with what we call the adverse outcome but it is all about people. I am happy that Nigerians know what they want and there are committees in place; bringing people from different sides of the divide to come and talk and look at ways of handling it. There is Prof Akinyemi, the former foreign affairs Minister and I know my brother Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (CAN) and Muslim religious leaders are meeting and that is the way it should be. We have to be proactive and be prepared so that we are not taken by surprise. More importantly, it is not about those leaders, it is about all of us. We have a special role to play to keep telling the people that Nigeria is one. There is no point talking about one man one vote and when it comes out you say no if the party of your choice does not come out victorious there is no need to be violence.

    On threat by Tompolo, Asari others and the fact that it was made at a government house.

    The militants only reacted to what the Northern have said. Let us be conscious in analyzing security situation. Where you make a statement does not suggest or mean that it is the party’s policy. Let’s get that very clear. I can be invited to Aso Rock and then I make a statement, does that mean that the president supported what I said. Let us be very clear, PDP is a peaceful government with well-respected and responsible people. There is no way the PDP would support violence. Some people are making statements, I cannot come and defend those statements because I don’t know from where they are coming and I wasn’t there. However, as far as PDP is concern, we will pursue peace and it is in our interest to pursue peace. So why would we want to invest in violence when we have opportunity to show what we can do. You can hear the president going round, it is all about what he has done and he keeps rolling them out.

    In the past, indeed of our faults as a party is that we underreported our achievement and we are correcting that now and things  are taking a better shape so I don’t see what we should embrace violence.

    The award of security contracts to the ex-militants, including Tompolo, has raised dust, do you think the president got it right?

    All over the world it is people that acquire weapons as long as you have the license to do it. To me that is not the problem. We have to be very careful with this issue. We should not politicize everything. Every Nigerian citizen has the right to acquire weapons if he is licensed. But unless you have something against them and you have taken them to a competent court of law. Yes these guys were militants. But let me ask you a question, do these guys have a cause for carrying arm against the Federal Government? The fact they were militants does not stop them from partaking in activities going on in the country. They carried arms because they were oppressed and when they protested, government recognized that they have been wronged and the matter was corrected.

    Beyond politics, do you think President Jonathan deserves another term?

    He has done so much. The challenges are colossal but if you look at governance, he has brought governance closer to the people in different area. Is it transportation, electricity has improved. We are talking about measurable indices of performance. Since I came to Warri the light has not tripped and no generator and you know power is key to us. Things are happening you can see gender equality. The president of Rwanda became extremely popular because of given opportunities to women folks in terms of governance and you can see what is happening here; he brought in trusted woman who are doing well in the area of government.

    Security is a great challenge, it is unfortunate, but the mistake between us and those who have security in their country is that security is not left only in the hands of profession; everybody has to be cautious in the area of security. It is only then that you can help the professionals to achieve what they want. People who are throwing bombs are living among us. Why are we silent, why are we not observant and why do we wait till people are killed, maimed and property destroyed before we start shouting. I want to appeal that security is collective responsibility. It should not be used as an index of political achievement. That will be sad. All of us, our lives are important, are future and property are important so we must all be committed to the security of the nation.

    If you were not PDP member, would you think the PDP-led Federal Government got its strategy right in the fight against Boko Haram?

    I am opportune as Minister of State for Defence, by my service and experience I have an idea of how it works. Security is not about one plus one equals two, especially when you are talking of insurgency. Let’s get some fundamentals right: one, the theatre of war has changed; it is no more conventional or traditional when you have people on one side and another on the other side and you determine this is the theatre of war and you start shooting or killing until you take prisoners and know you have won. The world has moved on. These days, the theatre has changed, the weapons have changed, and the rules of engagement have change. People can be in their kitchen and are making weapons that are lethal and are very fatal in their activities. Similarly, your enemy is living with you, so it is difficult to say this is the way it should have gone and this is how it shouldn’t have gone. That is why am talking about collective responsibility.

    Two, a government is to protect the people – these same people. Do you know how painful it was to use our tax money to acquire weapons, to prepare do you know how painful it was for me – I used to go around talking about it –  to give order to turn that same weapon against Nigerians for whatever reason? These are the constraints. You need wisdom and tact and you have to be careful and sure when you start using the weapon against your own people, destroying your own people. It is not an easy fight when you have the enemy on the other side. They are Nigerians who are misguided. Initially it was difficult, but when you appeal and tell them and yet they are not abating in their commitment to destruction, you have to step up ways of handling. For me, that is what we should be looking at and not staying aside and scoring. It is a difficult situation and Mr President has my sympathy.  It is a loss to all of us and not to one party or another. Those killing, the victims and those constrained about fighting back are also Nigerians. It is a sad situation.

    How is it different from the Niger Delta situation that you handled?

    The beauty about the Niger Delta situation is that leaders played a constructive and prominent role in arresting the situation. It came out from neglect and when the youths took arms because they believed that the leaders were too slow and had to fight to get it right, the leaders were all around them tried to guard and direct them and the government listened and we know about amnesty and all kinds of peace deals. In those days when the Ijaws and Itsekiris were fighting, this is an Itsekiri home, the Ijaws who were carrying arms were coming here to have meetings with us. Leaders had a major role in trying to make them understand that this is not the way to go. I was highly involved in the different peace movements, going to the creeks to talk to them and today we have the benefit of it.

    Are you satisfied with the president’s handling of corruption in the past six years?

    I am not satisfied with the way corruption is being highlighted generally. However, it terms of what my party is doing about it, it is like death sentence, it has not prevented armed robbery; robbery is still on the high side. It is like when you are doing something and not achieving the right result, you must withdraw and re-strategize and that is what the president is doing. The issue is not just putting people in jail or whatever. But let us try and let them understand that it is madness to steal from yourself – the money belongs to all of us. Lay emphasis on education, make people understand that what you are doing is not only embarrassing yourself, you are creating problems for generations to come. So the strategy which the president is taking is working. I talked about underreporting, go to EFCC and look at the statistics of prosecutions that have taken place in this administration and compare it with others.

    Corruption is being tackled but let it show that the way you tackled it is not the way to go. Before you take them to court, you put them in the papers, television and you harass them that is not the way to go. Human’s rights must be respected. We are interested in redirection, in rehabilitation and not punitive measures, punitive measures have not paid, it is just emotional.

    What most Nigerians want to see is prosecution of political officeholders and looters of treasuries, not the just the 419 cases the EFCC is going. Prosecution during past administrations may be fewer but some notable politicians were arrested and tried. We had issues of N200m cars and alleged fraud in the NNPC and others.

    We have a justice system and we have to be very careful. Politicians are not those that execute justice, we must have confidence in our judiciary system. You do not expect the President to be the policeman, investigator and judge. Let’s get those very clear. When you make statement about specific issues, you (journalist) are in a better position to investigate in terms of evidence that can be used for prosecution.

    How would you compare Obasanjo’s approach to fighting corruption and that of the present administration?

    I have just told you that it is not about coming to papers, before you take people to court, you find them guilty, it is not about making noise, collect evidence and do your work quietly. Meanwhile, think of reintegrating and redirecting the people involved because they are Nigerians. For me, that is the style I prefer but I am not going to be comparing one administration with the other. I cannot see with your eyes, this is a free country.

    How would you access the presidential candidate of the APC, Gen Muhammadu Buhari?

    In the first place, to a lot of people, he is the symbol of the old traditional way of doing things and a symbol of failure. He has not won any election. If you do something and it’s not yielding result, you have to change your style, is it not madness? Is he the only person in that party?

    People would tell you too that Abraham Lincoln, who contested several elections and lost but won the only time he contested the presidential election..

    Abraham Lincoln survived because the people of America believed in him. But if Buhari is able to convince them that he is the better candidate and they believed him then so be it. If not there are other younger candidates in the party that they should have projected instead of Buhari. That is my personal opinion.

    n how to deal with post-election violence

    I think the Federal Government has taken the right step in dealing with what we call the adverse outcome but it is all about people. I am happy that Nigerians know what they want and there are committees in place; bringing people from different sides of the divide to come and talk and look at ways of handling it. There is Prof Akinyemi, the former foreign affairs Minister and I know my brother Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (CAN) and Muslim religious leaders are meeting and that is the way it should be. We have to be proactive and be prepared so that we are not taken by surprise. More importantly, it is not about those leaders, it is about all of us. We have a special role to play to keep telling the people that Nigeria is one. There is no point talking about one man one vote and when it comes out you say no if the party of your choice does not come out victorious there is no need to be violence.

    On threat by Tompolo, Asari others and the fact that it was made at a government house.

    The militants only reacted to what the Northern have said. Let us be conscious in analyzing security situation. Where you make a statement does not suggest or mean that it is the party’s policy. Let’s get that very clear. I can be invited to Aso Rock and then I make a statement, does that mean that the president supported what I said. Let us be very clear, PDP is a peaceful government with well-respected and responsible people. There is no way the PDP would support violence. Some people are making statements, I cannot come and defend those statements because I don’t know from where they are coming and I wasn’t there. However, as far as PDP is concern, we will pursue peace and it is in our interest to pursue peace. So why would we want to invest in violence when we have opportunity to show what we can do. You can hear the president going round, it is all about what he has done and he keeps rolling them out.

    In the past, indeed of our faults as a party is that we underreported our achievement and we are correcting that now and things  are taking a better shape so I don’t see what we should embrace violence.

    The award of security contracts to the ex-militants, including Tompolo, has raised dust, do you think the president got it right?

    All over the world it is people that acquire weapons as long as you have the license to do it. To me that is not the problem. We have to be very careful with this issue. We should not politicize everything. Every Nigerian citizen has the right to acquire weapons if he is licensed. But unless you have something against them and you have taken them to a competent court of law. Yes these guys were militants. But let me ask you a question, do these guys have a cause for carrying arm against the Federal Government? The fact they were militants does not stop them from partaking in activities going on in the country. They carried arms because they were oppressed and when they protested, government recognized that they have been wronged and the matter was corrected.

    Beyond politics, do you think President Jonathan deserves another term?

    He has done so much. The challenges are colossal but if you look at governance, he has brought governance closer to the people in different area. Is it transportation, electricity has improved. We are talking about measurable indices of performance. Since I came to Warri the light has not tripped and no generator and you know power is key to us. Things are happening you can see gender equality. The president of Rwanda became extremely popular because of given opportunities to women folks in terms of governance and you can see what is happening here; he brought in trusted woman who are doing well in the area of government.

    Security is a great challenge, it is unfortunate, but the mistake between us and those who have security in their country is that security is not left only in the hands of profession; everybody has to be cautious in the area of security. It is only then that you can help the professionals to achieve what they want. People who are throwing bombs are living among us. Why are we silent, why are we not observant and why do we wait till people are killed, maimed and property destroyed before we start shouting. I want to appeal that security is collective responsibility. It should not be used as an index of political achievement. That will be sad. All of us, our lives are important, are future and property are important so we must all be committed to the security of the nation.

    If you were not PDP member, would you think the PDP-led Federal Government got its strategy right in the fight against Boko Haram?

    I am opportune as Minister of State for Defence, by my service and experience I have an idea of how it works. Security is not about one plus one equals two, especially when you are talking of insurgency. Let’s get some fundamentals right: one, the theatre of war has changed; it is no more conventional or traditional when you have people on one side and another on the other side and you determine this is the theatre of war and you start shooting or killing until you take prisoners and know you have won. The world has moved on. These days, the theatre has changed, the weapons have changed, and the rules of engagement have change. People can be in their kitchen and are making weapons that are lethal and are very fatal in their activities. Similarly, your enemy is living with you, so it is difficult to say this is the way it should have gone and this is how it shouldn’t have gone. That is why am talking about collective responsibility.

    Two, a government is to protect the people – these same people. Do you know how painful it was to use our tax money to acquire weapons, to prepare do you know how painful it was for me – I used to go around talking about it –  to give order to turn that same weapon against Nigerians for whatever reason? These are the constraints. You need wisdom and tact and you have to be careful and sure when you start using the weapon against your own people, destroying your own people. It is not an easy fight when you have the enemy on the other side. They are Nigerians who are misguided. Initially it was difficult, but when you appeal and tell them and yet they are not abating in their commitment to destruction, you have to step up ways of handling. For me, that is what we should be looking at and not staying aside and scoring. It is a difficult situation and Mr President has my sympathy.  It is a loss to all of us and not to one party or another. Those killing, the victims and those constrained about fighting back are also Nigerians. It is a sad situation.

    How is it different from the Niger Delta situation that you handled?

    The beauty about the Niger Delta situation is that leaders played a constructive and prominent role in arresting the situation. It came out from neglect and when the youths took arms because they believed that the leaders were too slow and had to fight to get it right, the leaders were all around them tried to guard and direct them and the government listened and we know about amnesty and all kinds of peace deals. In those days when the Ijaws and Itsekiris were fighting, this is an Itsekiri home, the Ijaws who were carrying arms were coming here to have meetings with us. Leaders had a major role in trying to make them understand that this is not the way to go. I was highly involved in the different peace movements, going to the creeks to talk to them and today we have the benefit of it.

    Are you satisfied with the president’s handling of corruption in the past six years?

    I am not satisfied with the way corruption is being highlighted generally. However, it terms of what my party is doing about it, it is like death sentence, it has not prevented armed robbery; robbery is still on the high side. It is like when you are doing something and not achieving the right result, you must withdraw and re-strategize and that is what the president is doing. The issue is not just putting people in jail or whatever. But let us try and let them understand that it is madness to steal from yourself – the money belongs to all of us. Lay emphasis on education, make people understand that what you are doing is not only embarrassing yourself, you are creating problems for generations to come. So the strategy which the president is taking is working. I talked about underreporting, go to EFCC and look at the statistics of prosecutions that have taken place in this administration and compare it with others.

    Corruption is being tackled but let it show that the way you tackled it is not the way to go. Before you take them to court, you put them in the papers, television and you harass them that is not the way to go. Human’s rights must be respected. We are interested in redirection, in rehabilitation and not punitive measures, punitive measures have not paid, it is just emotional.

    What most Nigerians want to see is prosecution of political officeholders and looters of treasuries, not the just the 419 cases the EFCC is going. Prosecution during past administrations may be fewer but some notable politicians were arrested and tried. We had issues of N200m cars and alleged fraud in the NNPC and others.

    We have a justice system and we have to be very careful. Politicians are not those that execute justice, we must have confidence in our judiciary system. You do not expect the President to be the policeman, investigator and judge. Let’s get those very clear. When you make statement about specific issues, you (journalist) are in a better position to investigate in terms of evidence that can be used for prosecution.

    How would you compare Obasanjo’s approach to fighting corruption and that of the present administration?

    I have just told you that it is not about coming to papers, before you take people to court, you find them guilty, it is not about making noise, collect evidence and do your work quietly. Meanwhile, think of reintegrating and redirecting the people involved because they are Nigerians. For me, that is the style I prefer but I am not going to be comparing one administration with the other. I cannot see with your eyes, this is a free country.

    How would you access the presidential candidate of the APC, Gen Muhammadu Buhari?

    In the first place, to a lot of people, he is the symbol of the old traditional way of doing things and a symbol of failure. He has not won any election. If you do something and it’s not yielding result, you have to change your style, is it not madness? Is he the only person in that party?

    People would tell you too that Abraham Lincoln, who contested several elections and lost but won the only time he contested the presidential election..

    Abraham Lincoln survived because the people of America believed in him. But if Buhari is able to convince them that he is the better candidate and they believed him then so be it. If not there are other younger candidates in the party that they should have projected instead of Buhari. That is my personal opinion.

     

  • Ex-militants and threats of war

    For the umpteenth time, Nigerians were treated to yet another threat of war, fire, thunder and brimstone; something that has become part of our daily menu list served from the oil-rich Bayelsa State, since General Muhammadu Buhari emerged the presidential standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress Party (APC), and a strong contender for presidency against their kinsman, the Otuoke-Bayelsa State-born incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    As always, the ‘war apostles’ have neither learnt a new trade nor allowed the creeks to leave their thinking along with the changing times, having benefitted from what today, is regarded as government’s handshake across the Niger. For the lack of another word, at least, they are still the region’s ‘distinguished’ former militants turned millionaires. What, however, has changed is that they are not promising Nigerians war from the swirling waterways of the creeks, (though not unlikely they would relocate to the creeks when they begin to make their war), but right inside Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    How time changes and men forget the past too soon.

    Here, we have men who were granted ‘pardon’ or ‘amnesty’ after a lucrative and gainful sabotage of the nation’s oil revenues through the force of arms in the region’s water expressways – a serious offence in most countries –  returning to poke the nation in the face. Interestingly, these same men, including one of the region’s typical turn-coats, Chief Edwin Clark, had put their sabotage skills to work when former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, presented President Jonathan to his kinsmen as Vice Presidential candidate to run with the late President Musa Yar’ Adua. One of the reasons they adduced for standing in the way of Jonathan was that while he was governor of Bayelsa State for two years, he did not add value to the state. Instead, they told the world, he pursued personal interests, including enriching himself. They had sworn possibly with the same thunder, fire and brimstone that they are currently promising Nigerians today should Jonathan lose the February 14 election.

    But Obasanjo had his way. The hatred did not end there. It reared up again rather ravenously when the late Yar’Adua appointed Jonathan to handle the amnesty negotiations. The militants had kicked until they were left without a choice. Today, curiously, it is this trio of Asari-Dokubo, Tompolo and Boyloaf that are swearing by Otuoke and creeks gods and goddesses to make Nigeria ungovernable should Nigerians reject Jonathan at the polls. Only a few weeks ago, Asari-Dokubo also boasted that he would raze down the entire South-west and went on to warn that the region has acquired war ships that could help them prosecute large scale war against any region of the country. One might have been accustomed to Asari-Dokubo’s often excessive and reckless manner of speaking, but more threatening is the uncommon silence of the presidency.

    With the manner Asari-Dokubo and his kinsmen are carrying on since the campaigns, it has become expedient to draw a line between drunkenness and madness, comedy and sarcacism or, crudity and ignorance. This month’s election is really not about war and even where it is about war, such wars are fought with the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). I dare say, the election is more of a contest between President Jonathan and Nigerians; not even about Buhari or APC, the party that has since the return of democracy, for once, posed real threat to PDP’s oligarchical dominance. Interestingly, President Jonathan as incumbent, is in pole position to cruise to victory if he is able to render to Nigerians a convincing stewardship of his six years in office. Nothing can be more patronizing than that. No cache of arms can win anyone the presidency as cheaply as evidences of performance. Except Asari-Dokubo, himself, is not convinced the president has done enough to sleep with eyes shut and so, readying for war just in case his fears come to pass.

    Even taken for granted that thePresident is under some sort of spell and can hardly remember anything he did that has impacted positively on the lives of the citizens, Asari-Dokubo rather than further blur and blot out his records by threatening fire and brimstone, should assist in looking up the performance evidences anywhere they are hidden. Bitter as it may sound, one thing is to want to rule, the other is to know what the challenges are and how to go about tackling them as president. Asari-Dokubo, it could safely be said, knows that every Nigerian desires steady power supply and an end to the pervading insecurity in the land, as well as a government that can fix the economy, create jobs eyes can see and above all, fight corruption which like a malignant fever has left the economy and every Nigerian with a red eye.

    How President Jonathan has fared in these regards, perhaps, is the difference between him and the evidently increasing popularity of the Katsina-born retired army General, who ruled the country more than 40 years ago, yet has clear chances in the elections as exemplified by the hurriedly shut down AIT opinion poll.  One expected Asari-Dokubo and his kinsmen to look beyond Buhari or APC; and South-west or North, to locate concrete reasons Jonathan deserves re-election since unlike the 2011 election tainted by the ‘no shoes’ sympathy, Nigerians would decide the election based on performance. The opposition APC points the president to the festering corruption under his watch. For instance, they say that never in the history of Nigeria has any leader given government officials unhindered access to state funds or fraternized with men who stole the nation blind as President Jonathan.

    Taken for granted that stealing is not corruption as the President said, they say where he decides to keep a blind eye, it should not be on people already convicted or being tried of corrupt practices. But to even the blind, the President’s body language is crystal clear. He seems to enjoy the company of foxes who steal with 10 fingers by either granting them state pardon or rewarding them with National Honours.

    While freedom of speech is one of the benefits of democracy, Asari-Dokubo and his ilk need be reminded of the implication of his threat, particularly as Niger Delta region alone cannot make Jonathan president either by force of arm or the ballot box. Jonathan is not the president of Niger Delta, but Nigeria and so must show as well as convince every Nigerian that he is deserved of their votes. With a sustained campaign of calumny against the army General, no one, either PDP or Asari-Dokubo, had expected he would still be standing tall.

    Like a stubborn stain on Jonathan’s white garment, his handling of the Nigerian Governors Forum controversy (NGF) was at best partisan. Or, how would anyone imagine that 16 is greater than 19? How about the $20 billion NNPC scandal or Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison -Madueke’s N10 billion private jet scandal? Or, even the president’s inability to rescue the Chibok Girls, yet was in Kano to dance hours after an Abuja Motor Park was bombed, killing thousands of people? It’s still fresh, too, the memories of applicants who died at the stadium after paying to enlist into the Nigerian Immigration Service, yet not an official or the minister was fired. One could guess correctly that had it gone without casualties, government would have added it to its lists of ‘ghost’ achievements though money was made off the job seekers.

    Today, poverty is in geometric proportions in a country ranked sixth in oil production. Manufacturing firms are leaving the country with those still around struggling to pay bills due to very high cost of production. In all of  these, the beneficiaries of the poor state of basic infrastructure in Nigeria are our neighbours, Ghana, Niger Republic, Camerounn and Mali, some of which we describe as poor countries! These should bother Asari-Dokubo, Tompolo, Boyloaf and Clark, because they are the true threat to Jonathan’s re-election. But again, we must remind ourselves that when we seek peace out of any bad situation, it should not be taken for weakness. For, though, even if  the man who chose to make war has all it takes to win a war, he will never sleep with two eyes closed until it is over. Until the coming of Boko Haram, the Niger Delta Militants stole the nation’s oil and killed military guards in their large numbers. Today, though they are hated with passion, Boko Haram is proving to everyone, including Niger Delta militants, that they do not hold the patent to violence. So, really, who is afraid of war?

    Any one who witnessed the wrath of god of thunder (Sango) with never talk evil of it.

     

    • Oba is Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor.  

  • Lawyers: try ex-militants for treason

    Lawyers: try ex-militants for treason

    On January 14, the two leading presidential candidates, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and others signed the  Abuja peace accord. Under the pact, they promised to ensure peaceful elections.   But in violation of the treaty, former Niger  Delta militants have threatened to unleash terror on the nation if President Jonathan loses the February 14 election. To the dismay of Nigerians, the authorities are not calling them to order.  Is this right? No, say lawyers, who are asking security agents to arrest and prosecute the former militants,  reports  ADEBISI  ONANUGA.

    Some lawyers have backed the call by a former Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, for the arrest and prosecution of former Niger Delta militants, who are threatening to cause trouble, if President Goodluck Jonathan loses the February 14 election.

    Gen. Danjuma, who spoke in Kaduna last Wednesday, urged the Federal Government to arrest the militants before the nation is plunged into chaos.

    He described the threat as “reckless”, stressing that it is against national unity and capable of plunging the country into war.

    The former militants made the threat at a meeting in the  Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. At the meeting were Mujahid Asari Dokubo, Victor Ben Ebikabowei (alias Boyloaf) and Government Ekpudomenowei (alias Tompolo).

    Also there were the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of Amnesty Implementation Committee, Kingsley Kuku; Governor Seriake Dickson and  President-General, Ijaw Youth Council, Udengs Eradiri, among others.

    Dokubo-Asari deplored alleged intimidation of the Ijaw, saying the people cannot take it any longer. He said: “For every Goliath, God created a David. For every Pharoah, there is a Moses. We are going to war. Everyone of you should go and fortify yourself.”

    Boyloaf condemned the attack on President Jonathan’s convoy in the North, saying nobody has the monopoly of violence. He said there is nothing like one Nigeria, pointing out that oil is the only thing that binds the country.

    Last Thursday, Tompolo restated the threat. He said: “Gen. Danjuma and his cohorts should know that I remain resolute on my position in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, that President Goodluck Jonathan must win this election for Nigeria to continue to stay together.

    “Is it the interest of Nigeria Gen. Danjuma is protecting or his oil bloc in the Niger Delta?  Is it the interest of Nigeria Danjuma is protecting or his 50 million dollars donation to Gen. Buhari for his campaign? Let Gen. Danjuma and his cohorts know that they will not see any Ijaw man, the Igbos and others to fight on their side if the war that they are planning broke up,” he added.

    Observers see the threats as being against the spirit of the January 14 peace accord signed in Abuja by all the presidential candidates.

    When on January 14, the peace accord was signed, Nigerians believed that the agreement would engender a peaceful conduct of the elections.

    Many heaved a sigh of relief watching President  Jonathan and the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Buhari, in warm embrace.

    The ‘Abuja Accord,’ commits the presidential gladiators and their political parties to peaceful electioneering campaigns and polls. They were also expected to ensure that the elections are devoid of violence.

    However, the inflammatory statements coming from the militants, who fear that President Jonathan might not have a chance at second term, have been massively condemned.

    Although the police and the Department State Security (DSS) threatened to move against anyone who makes inciting statements in the run up to the elections, no arrests have been made.

    Lawyers have condemned the threats, calling for the arrest of the former militants.

    Among those who spoke are Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN); Chief Godwin Obla (SAN); a former Ikeja Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Monday Ubani; a member of the Ogun State Judicial Service Commission, Abayomi Omoyinmi; Adesina Adegbite; Lagos lawyer, Theophilus Akawana; constitutional lawyer and author, Frank Agbedo, and  Olukayode Enitan.

    Ali said: “The threat should not be taken lightly. And I want to think that it may be deeper than we thought. I believe that desperate politicians may be behind the whole orchestrated threat of violence. These are people, who were rewarded for their militancy. They were adequately rewarded both officially and unofficially for the reason of the terror they unleashed on Nigerians. I think they should not stretch their luck. The people should remember that violence begets violence. And no group of persons anywhere in the world has a monopoly of violence.

    “But more than that, they’re bringing down the very high office of the President. In spite of their denials, they are portraying the President as an ethnic jingoist or tribal warlord.”

    Obla described the threats as unacceptable, saying: “The election will be determined in accordance with democratic process. This threat is actually treasonable and cannot be condoned. People should campaign and sell their candidates rather than threaten thunder and brimstone. The PDP must distance itself from these characters.”

    Ubani said any threat against Nigeria from any quarter is condemnable. He added: “By the way, the choice of who will lead Nigeria from May 2015 is clearly in the hands of the majority of Nigerians whose singular prayer this time is for INEC to organise  free, fair and credible election this year.

    “The government of Nigeria should show that they are in charge of the entire country, they ought to issue a condemnation note of warning through appropriate security agencies against any treasonable threat against the country. In short, a strong warning ought to have been issued against persons, bodies threatening to wage war against the country if they do not have their way.

    “Nigeria is clearly at the crossroads with these threats against  the state coming from all the corners of the country. What will save Nigeria apart from God is for us to be sincere to ourselves and admit the fact that there is structural imbalance with the way the country is structured. We need to restructure Nigeria to run a true federalism due to our heterogeneous nature. True federalism is what is proper for this multi ethnic and religious country.

    “Power at the centre must as of necessity be cut down and allowance given to the federating units to be autonomous enough to run a competitive governance. Nigeria will remain under war and threats of war if we continue to run the country the way it is presently structured,” said Ubani.

    Omoyinmi described the  statement  by the duo of Dokubo and Tompolo as “totally reckless and out of place” and one which must not be taken likely, especially that same was made during the preparation for election that is already heating up the country through various campaign by political parties.

    Omoyinmi said the government must strongly condemn the attitude of both men vehemently and sanction them so that such statement would not further instigate the politics with violence or reckless statements in response from other quarters.

    He said the threat to blow up oil installation should President Jonathan lose election is treasonable if it eventually occurs and it is criminal.

    Akanwa said the threat is totally uncalled for and should be condemned by all well meaning Nigerians. “The security agents should investigate and bring to book all those making such utterances. I do not think it was the so called Niger Delta militants that brought President Jonathan to power ab initio. It was the Nigerian masses. The power to return him or not rests squarely on the masses,” he said.

    Another Lawyer, Enitan, lamented a situation whereby the presidency is being made to look like a family inheritance.

    “The fault is not theirs; it’s ours for allowing to become our President an individual, who as the days of his presidency draws to an end, is descending from being President of Nigeria to being President of the Ijaws.”

    In apparent reference to the threats of the militants, Enitan regretted that they (militants) have obviously “reduced the presidency to the status of the stool of an Amanayanbo or Oba of their village”. “They should be informed that when Nigerians voted for Jonathan in 2011, it was not because he was an Ijaw man, but as a Nigerian and as a statement to everyone that the office of the President is not the right of any particular individual nor section but for whosoever Nigerians decide to give it to by their votes. If Nigerians choose not to re-elect him, it’s also because they have decided that they want another person as President,” he said.

    He described the militants’ threat as reckless. “That their statement is reckless is an understatement, a stronger word fails me, else I would have used it! Unfortunately for them, it is true that the President’s victory is not negotiable, as the time to negotiate the victory has passed. They all had the opportunity to negotiate it in the past six years when they had unfettered access to the resources of the nation and were receiving juicy ‘security’ and procurement contracts, but rather than use that access to better the lot of Nigerians and the people in their states, they were busying themselves with the purchase of jets and investing in countries other than Nigeria with obvious belief that they will have many more years to engage in such recklessness without let or hindrance from Nigerians. Now that they see that the people are about to take a decision, they’ve decided to issue silly and infantile threats,” he said.

    Agbedo said the threat is “totally unlawful and unconstitutional.” He added: “It must therefore, be condemned by all right thinking citizens irrespective of ethno-religious and political persuations as it constitutes grave danger to national unity.

    “Although the freedom of expression is a right guaranteed by Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution, this right, like other equally guaranteed rights, is not absolute, but has been watered down by the provisions of Section 45(1) of the same Constitution, which makes provision for derogations from rights preserved under Sections 37, 38, 39, 40 & 41 hereof in the overriding interest of national security, public safety, public order or for the purpose of protecting the rights of other people in the country.

    “There is, therefore, no hiding place or sanctuary under the law for these purveyors of violence, who must be made to face the wrath of the law for their incendiary and egregious threat to the peace and unity of this country.

    “The government must take appropriate and concrete action beyond merely condemning the actions of these groups. In taking such actions the approach must be holistic and not selective to ensure equal treatment to all those implicated in the dastardly and thoroughly ill advised conducts. There should be no sacred cows,” he said.

    Adegbite said it is so sad that Nigeria has degenerated to the level that everybody now makes all manners of careless, reckless and provocative statements. “Unfortunately, the reckless statements have often been treated most inappropriately by the government and the Nigerian security agencies. What we are witnessing in recent times particularly the most irresponsible outburst by the so called Ex Niger Delta militants, who I will rather call power drunk war mongers is very disturbing.

    “For the militants to issue threat that if Jonathan is not re-elected, they will enthroned violence on the land is a direct threat against the state and the peace of the country. This certainly is contrary to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and it is an act punishable under the Criminal Code. Section 37 (2) of the Criminal Code provides thus:

    “Any person conspiring with any person, either within or without Nigeria, to levy war against the state with intent to cause such levying of war as would be treason if committed by a citizen of Nigeria, is guilty of treason and is liable to the punishment of death.’

    “It is very clear that the actors involved in this threat against the state of Nigeria are no better than Boko Haram terrorists and the law on Treason would have to be activated against the enemies of the unity of Nigeria.

    “Therefore, I totally agree with the call by Gen. T. Y Danjuma that they should be arrested and I must add, prosecuted. The security agencies must impartially rise up to their responsibilities and be unbiased in the discharge of their duties. Mr. President must also prove to us that he is not a President for the Ijaws, but the the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “All well meaning Nigerians must rise against all manners of irresponsible call for violence and threat to the unity and peace of the country,” Adegbite added.

    Omoyinmi suggested that the federal government should, however, not standby idly and allow the country to be plunged into unnecessary crisis by the unguarded statements emanating from the militants.

    Enitan  asserted that the militants and their leaders have committed several offences for which they should be charged for incitement to violence; threat to the citizenry with a view to predetermine the outcome of an election; threat to the country by threatening the source of revenue of the federation; treasonable felony by threat to ceceed and unlawfully threatening to appropriate national resource. “They can also be charged under the terrorism act,” he said.

    For now, Enitan said what should be done is to keep the militants under very close watch with a view to preventing them from actualising their dastardly acts. “After the elections if the President is not re-elected, their monitoring should be heightened and once they are found tending towards actualisation, they would then be arrested and dealt with according to law,” he said.

    He added: “Suggesting to the government how to deal with the duo and others of their ilk would serve no purpose as the government would not look at any suggestions and a clear pointer to this is the fact that it took the government about seven days to dissociate itself from the statements and only after Gen. Danjuma had spoken.”

     

     

  • APC slams DSS, Police for silence on threats by ex-militants

    APC slams DSS, Police for silence on threats by ex-militants

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed the Directorate of State Service (DSS) and the police for their “loud silence” on the threats of war by ex-militants.

    The failure of the security agencies to act is an indication of their double standard and lack of fairness, the party said in a statement issued yesterday in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    To the APC, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo (alias Tompolo), Mujadeen Asari-Dokubo and others met at the Government House in Bayelsa, threatening to go to war should President Goodluck Jonathan lose the February 14 election.

    It is insightful to

    note that the same security agencies that reacted with hysteria to the harmless comments by Governor Rotimi Amaechi have suddenly lost their voices when the ex-militants threatened to wage war on the nation.

    ‘’When Governor Amaechi said soldiers had the right to protest if their welfare was not taken care of, the DSS was at its most efficient level, with its voluble spokesperson threatening fire

    and brimstone and only stopping short of arresting the governor, despite his immunity.

    ‘’When the same Governor Amaechi said the APC will form a parallel government if the Feb. 14th and 28th elections are rigged, the same DSS and the police sought to outdo each other with threats and condemnation of what they called ‘inciting comments’, even when Governor

    Amaechi’s warning was conditional.

    ‘’Now, the ex-militants have said President Jonathan must be re-elected or they will unleash violence on the country. In other words, it is immaterial whether or not he loses in a free and fair

    elections. There is no clearer indication of impunity than the action of the ex-militants, who issued their threats in the Bayelsa government house, with the governor of the state in attendance.

    ‘’More than a week later, the DSS has been missing in action while the police, in what can pass as a most shocking reaction, said they are still studying the ex-militants’ comments. Even after former Defence Minister Gen.Theophilus Danjuma called for the arrest of the ex-militants for their treasonable threats, and the ex-militants had the audacity to repeat the threats, the police still continued to ‘study’ the threats. This is simply unbelievable,’’ it said.

    APC said the implication of the conspiracy of inaction by the DSS and the police is that, under the administration of President Jonathan, there are different rules for different Nigerians, wondering how the security agencies can be trusted to provide a level playing ground for

    all political parties before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.

    ‘’For supporters of President Jonathan, there is no law, there is no police, there is no DSS. Their support for the President is a licence for lawlessness and irresponsibility, and if at all there is any law, they remain far above such law. That is why they could dare the entire nation by issuing such treasonable comments and get away with their action,’’ the party said.

    It called on Nigerians to take note of the glaring double standard of the security agencies, while urging local and international observers to closely monitor the activities of the security agents before, during and after the polls.

    ‘’On our part, the fact that the DSS and the police, both of which have issued their last warnings against those making inciting comments, have failed to move against the war-mongering ex-militants is a confirmation of what we have always believed: that national institutions have been deployed in the pursuit of partisan, rather than national interests under the Administration of President Jonathan,’’ APC said.

  • ‘Count PDP, Jonathan out of ex-militants’ threats’

    ‘Count PDP, Jonathan out of ex-militants’ threats’

    The Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibril, at the weekend, said the party and President Goodluck Jonathan have no hands in the threat being issued by ex-militants that there will be mayhem should the president failed to win the February 14 presidential election.

    Jibril noted that as a supporter of Jonathan, he would not like anybody to spoil his chance, saying the trio of Alhaji Mujahideen Asari-Dokubo, Victor Ben Ebikabowei (Boy Loaf), Government Ekpudomenowei (Tompolo) were speaking for themselves.

    He added that what they said did not represent the views of the Southsouth people as well.

    Jibril, who spoke with The Nation at the weekend, maintained that the PDP would not support any statement that would lead to the nation’s breakup, no matter who ever made the statement.”

    “I don’t think such statements are good enough to assist the President. Therefore, I regard their statements as personal and has nothing to do with PDP, because PDP will never make such statement or encourage that kind of statement.

    “I call on the supporters of PDP and those working for the re-election of President Jonathan to mind what they say. They should be very careful with their utterances. We are not at war and nobody should plan to separate Nigeria. We should strive to support Goodluck Jonathan because he is a very careful and simple person.

    “He will not encourage break-away and he will not encourage anarchy. He will never encourage abuse of people; he is a gentle man,” the PDP BOT secretary said.

  • Dickson and ex-militants’ threats

    SIR: Reading through the newspapers of January 25, I was shocked that Governor of Bayelsa State, Dickson Seriake, assembled the Niger Delta ex-militants at the Government House, not to ask them to peacefully work for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, but to threaten the rest of Nigerians that should Jonathan fail to win the election, they would return to the creeks. This is totally unacceptable. The group also said that they will retaliate the ‘attack’ Jonathan’s campaign rally received in Katsina and Bauchi states.

    Governor Seriake and Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State are both of same party, the PDP. Governor Yuguda in all sincerity confirmed that it was PDP supporters that pelted objects on President Jonathan and his entourage at their recent rally in Bauchi. Unfortunately Governor Shema of Katsina State kept mute on who actually perpetrated the Katsina act. Information filtering has it that it was the handiwork of PDP members who felt sidelined.

    Widely reported in the media was an appeal by General Buhari to all APC supporters not to take laws into their hands by causing any disaffection at the PDP presidential campaign rallies. Furthermore, the governor of Borno State personally signed a press statement urging Borno people not to do anything negative to the entourage of President Jonathan. We are all witnesses to the fact that Jonathan had a peaceful rally in Borno State. When Buhari came to Bayelsa, he had an issue-based campaign.

    These truths should be enough for Governor Seriake to caution his people on the planned retaliation. Therefore it beats one’s imagination that Governor Dickson could assemble and urge the ex-militants to employ violence should Jonathan fail to win.

    I would rather the governor address the heat that the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, is giving him. Governor Dickson sacked some of his aides suspected to be stooges of the First Lady. A group that is supposed to be campaigning for Jonathan’s re-election was banished from the state by the governor just because of Dame Patience. Dame in retaliation has urged the group to flood Yenagoa streets with campaign posters for one of her supporters for governorship of Bayelsa State slated for 2016. What an irony!

    Governor Dickson has earlier advised Jonathan not to campaign in Bayelsa as that would amount to waste of time and resources, even when he had disbanded a group campaigning for the President’s re-election? Things are cooking over there in Bayelsa.

    Dame Jonathan’s town, Okirirka, has witnessed two different attacks with explosives against the opposition, APC. The first was the bombing of the APC secretariat in Okirika and the other was last Saturday’s bombing of campaign ground of the APC Rivers State governorship rally.

    If one may ask; why is it so difficult for President Jonathan to caution his wife?

     

    • Chief Allagoa George,

    Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

  • Call ex-militants to order, Buhari’s campaign team tells Jonathan

    Call ex-militants to order, Buhari’s campaign team tells Jonathan

    •Kuku defends Bayelsa meeting

    The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to call to order ex-militants, who have declared war on the nation on his behalf.

    The ex-militants last Saturday at a meeting in Bayelsa State, the president’s home state, threatened to go to war, if Jonathan did not win the February 14 presidential election.

    In a statement, APCPCO’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the ultimatum from the ex-militants was irresponsible and a barbaric threat to the sovereignty of the nation and against the spirit and letter of the non-violence pact to which the president was a signatory.

    The APC presidential campaign said the declaration of war against the state was causing panic and concern among Nigerians who are already embattled by so many challenges, particularly insecurity.

    Shehu reminded Jonathan that as commander-in-chief, it was his primary responsibility to ensure the protection of the citizens and their property.

    He added that such open declaration of war by the ex-militants and several other acts of violence must be denounced by the president in the interest of democracy, unity and stability of nation.

    Shehu said those beating the drums of war needed to change to peace beats so that the citizens, especially the youth, would be encouraged to show that the sustenance of the country’s democracy “is better achieved through the ballot and not the bullet”.

    The APC campaign called on Jonathan to make good on his declaration that his “re-election is not worth the blood of any Nigerian by calling these war-mongers in his domain to order”.

    The organisation maintained that the latest threat was not an isolated act, adding that the threat on General Muhammadu Buhari by Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose and the attacks on the party’s offices and rally in Rivers State were pointers of a coordinated insurrection against the APC ahead of next month’s general elections.

    According to him, “it is disconcerting that the president has not immediately addressed such treasonable actions by persons, who in the past, have taken up arms against the nation, “and whose amnesty is dependent on their good behaviour and complete disarmament.”

    “The president needs to remember that he took an oath, as commander-in-chief, to protect Nigeria against all threats, external and internal. In this case, his silence could be misconstrued as an implicit approval of this declaration of war, seeing as the meeting of the warlords and subsequent declaration of war were from his own backyard, his home state.

    ”The first step the President needs to take, to show seriousness in dealing with this issue is to dismiss from his government, his Special Adviser on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku who presided at the meeting at which this obnoxious resolution to dismember Nigeria was taken,” the statement said.

    But, defending Kuku’s presence at the meeting, his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Daniel Alabra, said: “It was a peace meeting called by Bayelsa State and held at the Government House. Kuku was only invited to that meeting just as Asari. Whatever Asari said after the meeting was his own opinion.

    “The meeting was not called to threaten anybody or section of the country or the country.

    “It was called in respect of the tension rising in the Niger Delta concerning the attack on the president in the North during his campaign. His campaign buses have been burnt; he has been stoned.”

  • When ex-militants anger boiled over

    They vented their anger on the East-West Road. There were scores of them. They claimed to be ex-militants from the Niger Delta whose allowances  are not being paid.

    The ex-agitators were said to have barricaded the Patani axis, a boundary town between Bayelsa and Delta states.

    They were said to have caused gridlock on the popular expressway, a gateway linking the South-South with other zones of the country.

    It was gathered that the demonstration started early in the morning and was still ongoing at about 2pm.

    Road users were said to have been stranded because of the gridlock caused by the protest.

    An ex-militant, who gave his name simply as ‘General’ Johnson, told our correspondent on the telephone that the protesters were ex-agitators from Delta State.

    Johnson said they  were protesting the non-payment of their two-month allowances by the Federal Government Amnesty Office for October and November.

    He asked the government to fulfill its obligations to the former agitators to avert future protest.

    Also, Quincy John, a student of Delta State University, Abraka, said the trauma that characterised the long hours of gridlock was nasty.

    “We were trapped in the traffic congestion for close to seven hours. We were afraid that the protesters might turn violent or resort to criminality. My parents were confused andI have been receiving ceaseless calls from them,” John narrated.

    When contacted, Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, Joint Task Force (JTF), Col. Mustapha Anka, confirmed the protest.

    Anka said the outfit detailed its troops from the 222 Batallion to the scene of the protest.

    He said the troops appealed to the protesters to remove the barricade on the Patani overhead bridge and urged them to follow due process in their agitation.

    He confirmed to our correspondent that by 2pm, the protesters had vacated the road and the protest was over.

  • Ex-militants allege fraud in amnesty fund

    A group of Niger Delta ex-militants in Akwa Ibom State, under the aegis of Ukanafun Freedom fighters, have written to President Goodluck Jonathan  and  the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged withholding of their monthly allowances.

    Ukanafun Freedom fighters were among the ex-militants who embraced Federal Government Amnesty programme and also participated in different training both within the country and abroad. They however lamented that their allowances were yet to be paid several months after they completed training. The leader of the group hinted of possible of fraud and an abuse of amnesty programme.

    Speaking with Niger Delta Report in Port Harcourt, the leader of the group, Mbang Friday Odudu, who spoke on behalf of Etim Sunday, Idiong Ndifreke, Daniel Monday Uduak and other aggrieved members of the group, expressed worry over the attitude of the Amnesty Office.

    Odudu said many of his members died due to lack of assistance to cater for their needs.  He said the group may be forced to go back to the dark days if they could not put food on their tables.