Niger Delta militants have issued a fresh threat to go to war except President Goodluck Jonathan wins the February 14 presidential election.
The former warlords at a meeting at Government House,Yenagoa last Friday insisted that it is Jonathan on February 14 or war.
The said defeat for him at the polls would amount to dethronement, which they described as unacceptable.
They vowed to unleash violence on the country and take back Niger Delta oil should the outcome be unfavourable.
At the meeting were Mujahid Asari Dokubo, 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; host governor, Seriake Dickson and President General, Ijaw Youth Council, Udengs Eradiri, among others.
Dokubo, at the meeting, called for an end to what he termed intimidation of the Ijaw by other Nigerians.
“For every Goliath, God created a David. For every Pharaoh, there is a Moses. We are going to war. Everyone of you should go and fortify yourself,” Premium Times quoted him as saying.
He advised those at the meeting to be ready for the battle ahead and declared that President Jonathan would win reelection.
Also speaking, Boyloaf said that if the North succeeded in regaining power in the election the people of the Niger Delta region would take their oil back.
“Keep grudges and sentiments apart. We are ready to match them bumper to bumper,” Boyloaf said.
In his remark, 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 destabilise the state. Agency report
Barr. Oru, an Urhobo, said as much when he said a Jonathan loss would mean that Nigerians do not like Niger-Deltans and would provoke secession. Jonathan’s has been the most troubled regime since this country was started. This is the first time a Niger-Deltan has governed Nigeria. Surprisingly, people are talking of power rotation without considering that Ibos have Nigerian rights like everyone else. After Niger-Delta it can’t even be North (which has ruled Nigeria 45 years out of our 54 years of independence). It’s an irony of life that a region that is the main (economic) stay of the nation should be this loathed. It is an injustice that cries to the high heavens and I pray that God will touch the hearts of Nigerians with a spirit of give-and-take to avert any possible bloodshed.
It’s very interesting hearing Tompolo and Dokubo threatening War if Jonathan does not win the election next month ! I doubt much if these Ex -militants know the implications of what they are saying ! May be they did not witness the 30 months Nigeria civil war . You guys must know that some Nigerians sacrificed their lives to keep Nigeria one . Let me remind you that no single Nigerian born of a woman can divide Nigeria . If we didn’t fight to keep Nigeria one Jonathan would not have gotten opportunity to rule Nigeria . After him , many other Nigerians from Niger-Delta are still coming to rule the country . To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done . Keep this in your mind . Ismail Adetola Lawal Lagos