Pages

Tuesday 29 January 2013

2015: Ex-militants bow to pressure, soft pedal on Jonathan’s re-election bid

Indications emerged yesterday that protesting ex-militants in the Niger Delta have bowed to pressure from Presidency asking them to soft-pedal on their criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan, especially his eligibility to seek re-election in 2015.
It was gathered that the ex-fighters have rescinded the decision to oppose the second term bid of the president on the account of his failure to develop the Niger Delta. To this end, the ex-militants, who met in Lagos on Sunday, deliberately avoided the discussion on the re-election of President Jonathan, a development that was contrary to their earlier threat to take a definite stance on the issue at the forum. It will be recalled that the ex-fighters, who accused Jonathan of poor performance had conveyed Sunday’s meeting at the Festac Town, Lagos residence of a prominent member, Chief Ateke Tom.
The meeting was held under the aegis of Izon Ikemi, a grassroots group to challenge a similar group established by another exmilitant leader, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo, called Oporoza House.
The Izon Ikemi has a Niger Delta activist, Mr. Tony Uranta, as interim leader. But findings by our correspondent, however, showed that the ex-militant leaders kept mute over the main agenda of the meeting, which dragged into the early hours of yesterday. It was gathered that the forum merely discussed the poor state of the East/ West Road and that the Minister of Niger Delta, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, should be held responsible.
The forum also discussed the 13 per cent derivation fund and asked that the money should be channeled directly to the oil and gas community for better administration. They accused the governors of the region of misappropriating the fund.

It was also learnt that the group asked the Federal Government to commence the immediate implementation of the Ledum Mittee Technical Committee on Niger Delta. Surprisingly, one of the arrowheads of Izon Ikemi, who is also the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Alhaji Mujarhedeen Asari- Dokubo, was absent at the meeting.
Only three ex-fighters; Tom, Ebikabowei Victor Ben, alias Boyloaf and Paul Erics (Ogumbos) attended the meeting. Reliable sources at the meeting told National Mirror that few delegates, who tried to raise the issue about Jonathan and his chances for re-election were shouted down.
One of the participants said Tom and Boyloaf later told the gathering that they had met Jonathan and presented to him their grievances, which included the challenges of underdevelopment of the Niger Delta. They said the President assured them that their grievances would be addressed. Report available to National Mirror yesterday indicated that Uranta also had an audience with Jonathan before the meeting. Besides, one of our sources lamented that the Presidency had infiltrated the group ahead of the meeting.
It would be recalled that the Presidency had detailed a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe and the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadhomhe, to compromise the key leaders of the group. Our source said it was obvious at the meeting that the leaders of the group had been compromised ahead of the parley.
“We were surprised that the arrowheads of the group kept sealed lips about the main agenda of the meeting which was the position of the group about the re-election of Jonathan. Ateke Tom and Boyloaf only said they have met the President and that the issues bothering the group are being dealt with.

No comments:

Post a Comment