Prominent Niger Delta warlord and ex-militant, Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo, has
threatened that the people of the Niger Delta will respond in equal measure to
Tuesday’s attack on the convoy of President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina.
There were reports of an attack on President Jonathan’s convoy in Katsina
after his visit to the family of late President Umaru Yarádua in Katsina just
moments after his campaign in the town.
Speaking to newsmen at a press conference in Abuja, Asari-Dokubo vowed that
attack on the president would not go without retaliation. “There is an
established pattern of pre and post-election violence in the north.
In the 50s when late Awolowo was campaigning in the north, he went with
helicopters and he was mocked,” he said.
“People said he was flying over the houses and peeping at their wives. That
has continued and everywhere in the country, people say leave them alone. We
don’t want any trouble. But I think the game has changed. The rules of the game
have changed. “For every action, there will be an opposite and equal reaction.
I knew that the signing of the accord was useless and that the president
subjected himself to sign such an accord… for me, it was out of place for a
president and commander in chief of the armed forces of a country.
But the president is a humble person. He does things that even marvel
some of us and make us sometimes to be very angry. “To be frank, I was very
angry on that day they were signing it. The president has sworn to protect the
lives of every Nigerian. So, why would he after taking a constitutional oath
subject himself to another oath? “So what happened in Katsina is not a
surprise. But don’t be surprised. We are putting the world on notice that they
have started first. When we reply, let no body talk because we are going to
reply. We did not sign any accord with them. They did not sign. They are
talking about election violence now because they know that other people will
respond.
“Before, they had the monopoly of violence, so nobody cared who died.
Our lives were not valuable and they had all the latitude to wreak havoc and
did what they liked. But the game has changed. Be bold enough to tell them that
game has changed. If they slice our throat, we are going to slice your throat.
They stoned the president, you will hear from us. That’s the answer.
“My concern is what happens after the election because we know they will do
what they are known to do every time. But this time, they will cry. So all Igbo
people who are there, if you don’t come back home and you want to continue to
be there and something happens to you, there is nobody to be blamed.
If you have a child who is a youth corper and you allow him to be
there, you will not hold anybody responsible.” He reiterated his position that
Jonathan would win the February 14 presidential election, adding that those who
were planning violence would be defeated.
“There is no way Goodluck will not win the election. We will win them
and we know they are preparing for violence in consonance with some foreign
powers. When they do that, we will respond disproportionately. We will respond.
That’s what we are going to do. If you hit me with a stick, I am going to hit
you with iron. I am not speaking in riddles. I am speaking in plain language.
My English may not be very good. I am speaking in my own street language. We
are going respond disproportionately and we are unapologetic.
“The people who are in Katsina who did not hold their children should also
know that I will not hold my children. I assure you, nothing will happen
anywhere if they do not initiate violence.
Did we ask them to stone the president yesterday? Do you want us to fold our
arms so that they will kill him? “Let them stop the violence. When they do, we
will stop. A situation where Shekau will stand and say Niger Delta we are
coming for you. Goodluck I am coming for you. You are a man and I am a man. We
are going to look at each other eyeball to eyeball. You can shoot and I can
shoot. You can kill and I can kill. You can destroy and I can destroy.
“The question is not for me. It is for Buhari, el-Rufai, Shekau. They
are the people you have to direct this question to. Go and ask Buhari why he
allowed his people to stone the president and commander-in-chief in Katsina.
There must be balance of terror. One person does not have the prerogative to
kill, maim and destroy.”
