Prominent Niger Delta militants have vowed to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan wins the February 14 presidential election.
Mr. Jonathan is of the Ijaw ethnic stock, and the only member of a minority tribe to have ever governed Nigeria.
The former militants, who said any attempt to dethrone the President would be seen as a direct attack on the Ijaw nation, threatened to unleash violence on the country and take back Niger Delta oil should Mr. Jonathan loses re-election.
According to them the President’s victory in the election is not negotiable.
The former militant leaders took the position Friday in Government House, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, at an enlarged meeting that was attended by all the former militant leaders and their followers across the Niger Delta region.
Among those in attendance were, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, leader, Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force; Victor Ben Ebikabowei, aka, Boy Loaf, and Government Ekpudomenowei, aka, Tompolo.
Also in attendance were the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, and Chairman of Amnesty Implementation Committee, Kingsley Kuku; Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson; and his deputy, President General of Ijaw Youth Council, Udengs Eradiri, among others.
Addressing the meeting, Dokubo-Asari deplored the alleged intimidation being meted to the people of Ijaw stock in Nigeria, saying the people cannot take it any longer.
"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 Mr. Jonathan would win reelection.
Mr. Dokubo-Asari, who condemned the attack on Jonathan in the north in the ongoing presidential campaigns, maintained that the survival of the Ijaw nation rests in the hands of the militants gathered at the meeting.
On his part, Boyloaf condemned the attack on President Jonathan 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 binding Nigeria’s diverse nationalities together.
While maintaining that President Jonathan would win the election, he however said if the north takes the power away from Mr. Jonathan, the people of the Niger Delta region would take their oil back.
He stressed the need for oneness of purpose among the people, urging them to keep their grudges aside and face the present challenges facing the Ijaw nation with solidarity.
"Keep grudges and sentiments apart. We are ready to match them bumper to bumper," Boyloaf said.
In his remark, Governor Dickson thanked the former militant leaders for their resolve to back the re-election of President Jonathan with greater vigour and assured them that he would relate their position to the President.
He urged them to resist the temptation of being recruited by the opposition to destabilize the state. The governor also charged them to shun propaganda and blackmail.
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Posted: at 24-01-2015 06:08 PM (10 years ago) | Addicted Hero
osilandot at 24-01-2015 06:48 PM (10 years ago) (m)
Asiri if you called your self a strong man,you are ready for war,pls visit and re capture baga then I will know you are strong, pls try go back to school. During OBJ kuje was ur home.
Posted: at 24-01-2015 06:48 PM (10 years ago) | Newbie
maxzy277 at 24-01-2015 07:27 PM (10 years ago) (m)
All na mouth, Like senior like junior, why did you change your Nationality?, If the Wahala happen you will run to Benin republic and leave Jona on his own. Yeye dey smell
Posted: at 24-01-2015 07:27 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac
U̶̲̥̅̊ are an animal ....... Why war ? .you ve got to be suicidal ........ Apply a little bit of gumption if U̶̲̥̅̊ have ........ You know how to fight war : why don't U̶̲̥̅̊. Go and fight the BOko harams and Shekerau ..... Dey one place dey make mouth ........ Very soon God is going to destroy you and warships ...... Sick animal!
Posted: at 24-01-2015 07:45 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Edwin628 at 24-01-2015 08:05 PM (10 years ago) (m)
This two pencil pushing crack pot homo" is so fool of him self that i still think his parents should have used condom on the day of his conception,ughhhh.
Posted: at 24-01-2015 08:05 PM (10 years ago) | Upcoming
italianjob at 24-01-2015 08:16 PM (10 years ago) (m)
The truth is bitter, Asari said the truth, who is fooling who? Are the northerners more intelligent and powerful to be ruling Nigeria without progress for over forty years, they messed up southern government to prove them incapable of the seat. Now they started it. For me there is nothing like one Nigeria without oil even though the oil has gone down drastically and will continue to go down.
Posted: at 24-01-2015 08:16 PM (10 years ago) | Upcoming
leonardi at 24-01-2015 08:17 PM (10 years ago) (m)
Some of u here says why can't the militants face BH. Its not the problem of the Niger delta so there's no need for that. Truth is whoever wins this election, there will be violence either from the north or south south. Let's jst be prayerful and to be on the safer side let our brothers in the north come back till the election ends and things calm down. BH will be child's play compared to what is to come if GEJ loses cos my people will not play hide and seek and use children to detonate bombs like some cowards do. It will be fire for fire
Posted: at 24-01-2015 08:17 PM (10 years ago) | Upcoming
kelemann at 24-01-2015 09:01 PM (10 years ago) (m)
Na your papa born you jare. Nobody has monopoly of violence. Why dem go attack gej for North naa. Is he not free to campaign anywhere in Naija. The country belongs to all of us and equity is wat they want.
Posted: at 24-01-2015 09:01 PM (10 years ago) | Upcoming
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