Dokubo-Asari Looking More Like a Freedom-Fighter Every Day - My View
There is no doubt in my mind that newly elected president of Nigeria, Umara Yar'Adua regrets releasing Mujahid Dokubo-Asari from custody last Friday. What was billed as a humanitarian gesture for medical reasons and was contingent on Asari's promise to be cooperative turned into a ticking time bomb.
Several months ago, I wrote in the newsletter that preceded this blog, that I thought the only way the troubles in the Niger Delta would end would be through a civil war. During the past week, fire fights between the Nigerian Army and the militants proved the young Ijaw men fighting for their nation's right to survive are much better soldiers than the troops the Federal Government has sent to the swamps. Their victories over professional soldiers has to bolster their morale.
Now I will make another prediction. If Yar'Adua does not rearrest or eliminate Asari altogether, the militant leader will foment more and more violence that will make what MEND started in January 2006 look like a Boy Scout jamboree. Of course the government is between a rock and a hard place.
Asari is a dangerous man alive and a martyr dead. He also appears to be much more ethical than the previous president. It remains to be seen exactly how corrupt Yar'Adua is, but the fact he was Obasanjo's hand picked replacement does not bode well for Nigeria.
As for a solution to the problems of the Niger Delta, I don't believe the answer is to wait on a corrupt government to do the right thing. I believe the Ijaw nation and its supporters from other tribes are doing the only thing they can, fighting for the liberation of their lands and survival of their people.
As the citizen of a country that earned its own liberty and freedom by force, I wish them well.
Dokubo-Asari Tells Expatriates to Leave the Niger Delta Now
Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, on Sunday blamed the kidnap of foreign oil workers on their refusal to leave the region despite several warnings by militants.
He reiterated to journalists in Port Harcourt that the expatriates have no reason to stay back when the owners of the land have asked them to go.
"We asked them to leave our land," he recalled, "but they refused and sided with the Nigerian military, believing the Army would protect them.
"The foreign oil workers should leave our land peacefully and come back when we might have resolved our differences with the government".
Although Dokubo decried hostage taking, he explained that the problem has gone beyond what a single individual like himself could stop overnight.
He accused the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo of instigating the Niger Delta violence to extend his tenure and further destabilise the Ijaw.
He implored Abuja to also find an answer to the conflict.
Dokubo described the Obasanjo government as "the most corrupt in the history of Nigeria because it made more money than any other but ended up having nothing to show to the people after eight years in office.
"I will fight Obasanjo to a standstill by leading the campaign for him to be brought to justice to account for gross human rights abuses, corruption and maladministration from 1999 to 2007".
He warned that unless Obasanjo and all Governors who stole from the treasury are brought to book, there would be no peace in Nigeria and the Niger Delta in particular,
"Obasanjo used his position to enrich six Nigerian entrepreneurs through the oil resources of the Niger Delta, with five Yoruba and a Northerner as direct beneficiaries, to the detriment of the people of the Niger Delta".
Dokubo also castigated Obasanjo for diverting resources from the region to build the OKNLG in his home state of Ogun while the Brass LNG is yet to come on stream.
"We shall see if the OKNLG will work. If the Kaduna Refinery has worked, then the OKLNG will work. Let us just wait and see. We can only allow it to function if they give us justice and allow us to control our resources.
"You cannot threaten us with the military and turn round to divert our resources to empower a few persons when the owners are dying of hunger and environmental problems".
He promised to carry on with the struggle for self determination for the Niger Delta, and said he is ready to lay down his life to ensure freedom and justice for his people.
"I am not afraid to die for the people, having reached the age of 43 and taken the cause of the Ijaw to a point from which I cannot retreat".
Would he support the administration of President Umaru Yar’Adua and his Deputy, Goodluck Jonathan?
Dokubo said he has nothing to do with any government and would only watch the actions and utterances of the two men to inform his decisions.
On the issue of bail conditions given him by the court, he insisted that he is not a party to any agreement and not bound by anything, as he is neither a politician nor a militant but "an Ijaw nationalist".
A few hours before Dokubo spoke in Port Harcourt, militants had invaded a facility belonging to Agip in Ogboinbiri, Bayelsa State, where they overpowered troops of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in a shoot-out.
The soldiers were chased away and it seemed no life was lost in the attack, which could be a revenge for the nine militants killed by the JTF last Wednesday in Ogboinbiri.
JTF Public Relations Officer, Major Ochugwuba Omale, confirmed that the soldiers were over-powered in the gun duel.
The Movement Of The Niger Delta People (MONDP) later issued a statement that the release of Dokubo is not enough to end the conflict.
"Although we are quite pleased with the release of our leader, we want to warn that the multinational companies operating in the area should not use this as an excuse to continue with the non-challant way they carried on before the commencement of our pro-active actions", the statement, signed by MONDP spokesman, Preye Amazo, said.
"We have earlier demanded that they review their operational policies in the area towards their host communities and we are still insisting on this as a criterion to ensure the total cessation of all hostilities.
"We enjoin the multinational companies to be advised and motivated by the example shown … by Umaru Yar'adua in releasing (Dokubo). This act of 'Good Faith' must be replicated by the multinationals if lasting peace is to be achieved in the Niger Delta.
"In the interim, we have commenced modalities for the release of the expatriates in our custody. We make no firm promises, but we are quite confident that (they) will regain their freedom as soon as possible.
"The expatriates are Jan Van De Mortel (Dutch), James Thorburn (British), Massaoud Ahmadi (French), and Salman Ahmad (Pakistani)".
Asari --- I will fight Obasanjo (Vanguard)
President Umar Yar' Adua has been told to constitute a public enquiry into the eight years rule of former president Olusegun Obasanjo. Describing Obasanjo administration as the most corrupt in the nation’s political history, Asari Dokubo who spoke to newsmen yesterday in Port Harcourt said he had made a covenant with his creator to see that Obasanjo is called to answer for his deeds as president.
“I will fight Obasanjo until he is brought to justice for his abuse of human rights, corruption. His government is the most corrupt in the country. His government made more money than any other past administration yet in the eight years of the administration the kleptomaniac government could not give roads, nothing to show for it. If we don’t bring Obasanjo to justice there will be no way the country can move forward.”
“He invested N1.3 trillion in the power sector yet he could not generate more than 3,000 megawatts. He destroyed Nigeria . Known criminals were in his government. I have made a contract with my God that I will fight Obasanjo until he is brought to justice.
“Obasanjo wanted to bribe me. He said he would give me one oil block, I rejected, he offered me Director of Youth, NDDC, I rejected. If it is money I am looking for, there is so much in the creeks. This angered Obasanjo and he said I should be left to die if I want to die in that place.
“I have no personal problem with Obasanjo. I started having problem with him when he stood against Ijaw people. We will fight Obasanjo for gross abuse of human rights. There are thousands of people in chains in the SSS cell. We will continue to campaign until Nigerians demand for a public enquiry”.
He described his prison experience as one of the most challenging period of his life, saying it drew him closer to his creator and also made him fit physically. “I was weighing 139 before detention but now I am weighing 87. I don’t know if I have added since Thursday when I was released.
He also asked expatriates working in the Niger Delta to immediately vacate the region until problems in the nation’s federalism were fully resolved.
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