The Federal Government has officially revealed that the threat by the ex- Niger Delta militants was reprehensible.
The FG’s condemnation came after Lt.Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, demand for the arrest of the militants after their threat in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
The ex-militants – Mujahiden Dokubo-Asari, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), Victor Ebikabowei (aka Boyloaf) and others – after meeting with Governor Seriake Dickson had said: “For every Goliath, God created a David. For every Pharaoh, there is a Moses. We are going to war. Every one of you should go and fortify yourself.”
The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, cautioned the militants and said
that they have no need to start war since President Goodluck Jonathan
had said he would concede defeat if he lost the February 14 presidential
election.
He said, “It is reprehensible for people to threaten this country with mayhem should their candidate lose the election . The President, Dr. Jonathan, has not left anybody in doubt as to his preparedness to conduct a free, fair, credible and transparent election.
“Mr. President has said that in the unlikely event of his losing the election, in the course of this exercise, that he was straight man enough, he was democratic enough to concede defeat.
“So, if Mr. President himself, who is the main contestant, who is the President of this country, who is the leader of the PDP(Peoples Democratic Party) has come out to say that he was going to ensure free and fair elections where the choice of Nigerians would be respected, I do not see where statements from supporters of either Mr. President or any political party for that matter should derail the course of this democratic movement.”
The minister said that the statement was unwarranted and said that the FG would hold a free and fair elections.
He added that security agencies had been sufficiently mobilised for the elections.
Ohaneze Ndigbo also reacted to Danjuma and said that the former military man needs to worry more about the destructive activities of Boko Haram in the North-East.
The Secretary General of the group, Joe Nworgu said:“They should prevail on all those behind the insurgency in the North to stop. Let them do that and not to call for the arrest of people who are merely issuing verbal threats.
“The group they armed are destabilising the country. Their men are already armed and fighting and embarrassing the country. These ones are only issuing verbal threats.
“Luckily, Danjuma is in charge of the relief funds for victims of the insurgency. He is in a better position to know those that should be cautioned.”
Northern Elders
Meanwhile Northern Elders Forum has declared support for Danjuma’s stance.
The forum’s spokesperson, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, said: “It makes a lot of sense. It serves as a wake-up call for people who are derelict of their duties.
“If somebody (in the security services) is asleep, he should wake up and do his job that is all Gen. Danjuma is saying.”
“That’s absolute rubbish, it does not make sense to make such claims. This is not the first time they (ex-Niger Delta militants) are issuing such threats; It has been going on for some time and nobody has cautioned them.
“If you look at the environment and venue where they make such comments you cannot connect it directly to those who are responsible for it. People have been calling for this (arrest) for a long time.”
Yoruba interest group, Afenifere also reacted to the militants
statement, asking those beating the drums of war to refrain from doing
so as it threatens the survival of the country.
Secretary of the group, Chief Seinde Arogbofa, said: “That is not the part of democracy. Although they were reacting to the attack on the President when he went to campaign in the north, it is not sufficient to begin to talk about war.
“Even the President will not accept that. He would not want the country to break in his hands.
“What the former militants should be doing is to campaign effectively for the President so that he becomes President.”
Boyloaf had earlier today reacted to Danjuma’s quote, saying that his assets in Niger Delta would be harmed if he doesn’t take back his words.
The FG’s condemnation came after Lt.Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, demand for the arrest of the militants after their threat in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
The ex-militants – Mujahiden Dokubo-Asari, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), Victor Ebikabowei (aka Boyloaf) and others – after meeting with Governor Seriake Dickson had said: “For every Goliath, God created a David. For every Pharaoh, there is a Moses. We are going to war. Every one of you should go and fortify yourself.”
The Minister of Interior Abba Moro
He said, “It is reprehensible for people to threaten this country with mayhem should their candidate lose the election . The President, Dr. Jonathan, has not left anybody in doubt as to his preparedness to conduct a free, fair, credible and transparent election.
“Mr. President has said that in the unlikely event of his losing the election, in the course of this exercise, that he was straight man enough, he was democratic enough to concede defeat.
“So, if Mr. President himself, who is the main contestant, who is the President of this country, who is the leader of the PDP(Peoples Democratic Party) has come out to say that he was going to ensure free and fair elections where the choice of Nigerians would be respected, I do not see where statements from supporters of either Mr. President or any political party for that matter should derail the course of this democratic movement.”
The minister said that the statement was unwarranted and said that the FG would hold a free and fair elections.
He added that security agencies had been sufficiently mobilised for the elections.
Ohaneze Ndigbo also reacted to Danjuma and said that the former military man needs to worry more about the destructive activities of Boko Haram in the North-East.
The Secretary General of the group, Joe Nworgu said:“They should prevail on all those behind the insurgency in the North to stop. Let them do that and not to call for the arrest of people who are merely issuing verbal threats.
“The group they armed are destabilising the country. Their men are already armed and fighting and embarrassing the country. These ones are only issuing verbal threats.
“Luckily, Danjuma is in charge of the relief funds for victims of the insurgency. He is in a better position to know those that should be cautioned.”
Northern Elders
Meanwhile Northern Elders Forum has declared support for Danjuma’s stance.
The forum’s spokesperson, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, said: “It makes a lot of sense. It serves as a wake-up call for people who are derelict of their duties.
“If somebody (in the security services) is asleep, he should wake up and do his job that is all Gen. Danjuma is saying.”
“That’s absolute rubbish, it does not make sense to make such claims. This is not the first time they (ex-Niger Delta militants) are issuing such threats; It has been going on for some time and nobody has cautioned them.
“If you look at the environment and venue where they make such comments you cannot connect it directly to those who are responsible for it. People have been calling for this (arrest) for a long time.”
afenifere
Secretary of the group, Chief Seinde Arogbofa, said: “That is not the part of democracy. Although they were reacting to the attack on the President when he went to campaign in the north, it is not sufficient to begin to talk about war.
“Even the President will not accept that. He would not want the country to break in his hands.
“What the former militants should be doing is to campaign effectively for the President so that he becomes President.”
Boyloaf had earlier today reacted to Danjuma’s quote, saying that his assets in Niger Delta would be harmed if he doesn’t take back his words.
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