Niger Delta militants threaten war if Jonathan loses – Punch newspaper

 Dokubo Asari

By Simon Utebor

Niger Delta militants have threatened to take up arms again if President Goodluck Jonathan failed to win in the coming February 14 presidential election.

The former militants spoke when they met with the Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson on Friday. They said Jonathan’s re-election was not negotiable.

Addressing the audience, a leader of the militant, popularly known as Boyloaf flayed the attack on the President in some northern states, saying nobody or group of persons had the monopoly of violence.

Boyloaf, who contended that there was nothing like one Nigeria, said the only thing binding Nigeria’s unity was the oil.

He believed that President Jonathan would win the election, but however noted that if the North out of desperation for power took power from their kinsman, the people of the Niger Delta would take their oil back.

The ex-warlord said, “We are Nigerians but not one Nigeria; what brings us together is oil. The North wants to use insecurity excuse to push out our own.

“One thing I can assure you is that though I am retired, I am not tired. We can go back to the struggle. We own the resources and they are saying we do not have the right to rule. I will assure you that we must collect our oil back. If they take back power from us, we will take back our oil. Let us fight this last fight and I tell you the Devil is a liar.”

He stressed the need for oneness of purpose among the people, urging them to keep their grudges apart and endeavour to tackle the present challenges facing the Ijaws.

On his part, another militant leader, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari lamented the alleged intimidation being meted out to the people of Ijaw stock in Nigeria, saying the people could not take it anymore.

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,’’ he said.

He advised those at the meeting to be ready for the battle ahead and declared that Jonathan would win reelection.

Dokubo-Asari, who condemned the attack on Jonathan by supporters of the opposition candidate maintained that the survival of the Ijaw nation rested in the hands of the militants gathered at the meeting.

Addressing the former militant leaders, who converged on the Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa, Dickson called on them and their estimated 30,000 foot soldiers as well as the Ijaw nation to be united in their support for the re-election of Jonathan.

Dickson said the time had come for all stakeholders and interest groups in the Niger Delta, especially, the Ijaw nation, to pool their resources and work in one accord to ensure the President’s victory on February 14.

The governor described the re-election of President Jonathan as key to the developmental aspirations of the nation and the Niger Delta.

He noted that victory at the forthcoming polls would afford Jonathan the opportunity to consolidate on the achievements already recorded in the various sectors of the economy.

Dickson condemned in strong terms, the unwarranted attack on Jonathan’s campaign convoy in two northern states.

Culled from Punch