hapnings:Asari Dokubos stand on the on going F.G negotiations

ABUJA – Following reports of planned negotiations between the federal government and the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, the leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari has broken his silence, warning against his inclusion in the negotiation team.

Dokubo-Asari Dokubo-Asari He also warned against associating his name in the matter, stating categorically that he had not appointed anyone to be his representatives.

Asari who was former national president of Ijaw Youth Congress and also the leader of Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Front, NDPSF, vowed never to negotiate with the government of President Mohammadu Buhari.

He instead accused the President of waging a genocide war against the Ijaw nation, saying that the President was paying lip service to the negotiation plan.

Asari who conveyed his views through a public disclaimer he splashed on his Facebook wall on Sunday night, stating that he believed in the cause of Ijaw Nation,Niger Delta Region and The United States of Biafra(USB).

He warned that ” for every action there must be an equal and opposite reaction….You can’t sow to the winds and expect not to harvest a whirlwind in return.”

The former warlord stated that he would never condemn the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, saying that unless there was a Sovereign National Conference, SNC, was convoked on issues of Ijaw, Niger Delta region and USB, and a plebiscite that would be monitored by the United Nations, UN, there would be no peace in the mentioned territories.

Asari wrote: “The public should note that I,Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari,Alabo Edi Abali -Abala Buruburu 1 of Kalabari had not entered,directed,appointed or delegated any person or group of persons to negotiate or enter into dialogue with any president,vice president,governor,minister,national security adviser,any committee or institution in furtherance of the nigerian states pretension to the pursuance of peace in the occupied Ijaw,Niger Delta Region and The United States of Biafra(USB). “Therefore, anybody who had presented himself/herself claiming to me or represent me in any manner of discussion, fora or conference in furtherance of this pretentious negotiation or dialogue is a fraud and therefore should not be accorded any recognition as a person representing me, the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Front and Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force.

“I am convinced and firmly believe that the occupation gambari and their collaborators in the Nigerian state led by General Muhammadu Buhari is not interested in any or in any type of peace in Ijaw, the Niger Delta Region,In the Territories of the United States of Biafra or even in any part of nigeria. “The body language of general Muhammadu Buhari is to carry out a genocide and a pogrom against the Ijaw,Niger Delta and the United States of Biafra(USB). “Therefore,there is no way I will be hoodwinked to be part of any sham that the government of the nigerian state led by General Muhammadu Buhari is masquerading as negotiation or dialogue that will lead to peace in the aforesaid territories….

The same way the bride Amnesty was introduced-which I and the volunteers rejected-was used to bribe the faint hearted amongst our compatriots,the cult gangs and fraternities,and the criminal elements in the Niger Delta to allow the our hydro carbon resources-which is our God given and exclusively belong to us- to be freely extracted to satisfy the extravagant and immoral appetite of the gambari and their collaborators… “Today most of the recipients of the Amnesty Bribe are full of regrets and wish that they turn back the hands of clock.

“In furtherance to the above stated reasons,I have no cause to be part of any negotiation or dialogue in the present general Muhammadu Buhari contrived crisis in the Ijaw territories to give him an excuse to carry out his well thought out plan to execute his genocide and pogrom against us….since I am not a member of the Niger Delta Avengers or any of the other internet groups trying to obliterate the shine of the heroic explores of the Niger Delta Avengers….Some people had severally opined that if I am not an Avenger I should publicly disclaim them…Why should I do so? What is my business to be a busybody in this matter?Why should I take pannadol for someone else headache? I will never disclaim,denounce or condemn the Niger Delta Avenger….

“For I am a known advocate of this truism that for every action there must be an equal and opposite reaction….You can’t sow to the winds and expect not to harvest a whirlwind in return. “Finally,the public should know that I am not part of any negotiation or dialogue and had not mandated,nominated,appointed or authorized any person or group of persons to represent me in any dialogue or negotiation with the government of the Nigerian state led by general Muhammadu Buhari. “My believe is that only a SOVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE with the resolution for a PLEBISCITE SUPERVISED BY THE UNITED NATION can lead to permanent peace in Ijaw,Niger Delta and the Biafran territories.”

Presidential Response to the Niger delta Militant

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday told militants who have continued to destroy oil installations in the Niger Delta that the unity of the country remained non-negotiable.

Buhari also called on those who had looted the nation’s treasury to approach the government and negotiate how they would return their stolen wealth.

Buhari said these when Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Bello, led residents of the FCT to pay the President Sallah homage at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
But the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the pan-Yoruba socio-political body, Afenifere, have faulted the position of the President on the unity of the nation.
The organisations, on Wednesday, told Buhari that the unity of the country was negotiable.
Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka had, on Tuesday last week, described the oneness of Nigeria as “very negotiable”.
The President regretted that while the anti-terrorism war was being won, the issue of militancy in the Niger Delta resurfaced.
Buhari said the Federal Government had commenced the process of identifying the number of groups involved in militancy in the region with a view to getting their leaders and appealing to them to give peace a chance.
He said he was in agreement with the slogan made popular by a former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, that to keep Nigeria one “is a task” that must be accomplished.
Buhari added, “Please, pass the message to the militants that one Nigeria is not negotiable. They better accept this fact.
“The Nigerian constitution is clear as to what they should get and I assure them that there will be justice.”
The President stated that looters would not know peace if they refused to return stolen funds because his government would continue to be on their trail.
“Please tell those with plenty of money, which does not belong to them, to try and negotiate and return it in peace so that both they and us will be in peace, otherwise we will continue to look for them,” the President said.
On security, the President expressed delight that his government had made a lot of progress in fighting terrorism in the North-East.
Buhari also admitted that despite the change in name and form of the National Electric Power Authority, the power situation in the country had remained unreliable.
“Those who watch television are at the mercy of what is used to be called NEPA. Whichever form it (NEPA) has taken now, it has maintained the tradition of unreliability. It is not every day that the people get the news,” the President said.
Buhari also admitted that there were a lot of problems bedevilling the nation, especially on food production.
He disclosed that the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, were working hard to address food production problem.
He said the CBN was borrowing the minister money outside the budget so that he could assist states, especially the 13 states that could produce rice.
Osinbajo had stated that it had been a tough journey for the present administration because of the clean-up exercise it embarked on since inception.
He said the Buhari administration inherited what he called a “huge financial mess” from the past administration.
The vice-president, however, expressed joy that things had started looking up, adding that things would soon be better for the nation and Nigerians.
“We will place the country on a strong footing,” Osinbajo assured Nigerians.
Osinbajo prayed for Buhari that as he continued to grow older, he would be stronger in strength, adding that the President would have enough strength to be victorious no matter the challenges facing him and the country.
The Minister of FCT presented a giant season’s card to the President while representatives of the Aso Villa Chapel presented him with a big mirror and a giant season’s card.
Buhari not reading the mood of the nation correctly – Afenifere
The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, believed Buhari might not be reading the mood of the nation correctly.
In an interview with one of our correspondents, Odumakin said, “I think the President is a sincere man but he may not be reading the mood correctly. The country is divided under him than before. Amalgamation and armed dialogue are going on all around us over the unity of Nigeria which many sections perceive has treated them unfairly.
“To continue to insist that the unity is not negotiable is aping that bird which buries its head in the sand and believes, because it is seeing nobody, it has become invisible too.”
Ohanaeze says it’s not calling for secession
The President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, aligned with Afenifere’s position, saying the unity of Nigeria was negotiable.
In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, Isiguzoro said the current structure of Nigeria had not favoured all parts of the country.
According to him, Nigeria’s unity should be subjected to periodic review.
The OYC leader noted that the Igbo, as a group, canvassed the restructuring of the country during the last constitutional conference.
Isiguzoro said, “We (Ohanaeze Ndigbo) believe that Nigeria’s unity is negotiable. The principles and

structures on the co-existence of the various nationalities that make up the country should be reviewed periodically.
“At the moment, the structure that is in place is not in favour of everybody.
“Those that it is favouring are the ones who want the status quo to be maintained, but those it has not favoured, like the Igbo, are open to a negotiation of the country’s unity.”
He added, “The Igbo demanded restructuring at the last constitutional conference and we are still holding on to that demand. We believe Nigeria’s unity should be subject to periodic review.
“We are not calling for secession, but a periodic review of the terms of the country’s unity is necessary for peaceful coexistence, otherwise agitations for separation would continue to grow.”

NDA: Pipeline In Rivers State bombed

PORTHARCOURT- NIGER Delta Avengers, NDA, shifted its hostilities from Delta State to Rivers State, Wednesday, blowing up a Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, pipeline at Eleme leading to the Nigeria Liquefied National Gas, NLNG in the state.

The militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying on its Facebook page Niger Delta Avengers: “By 3.00 am, yesterday, strike team 2, carried out a major strike, bombing NNPC pipeline at Eleme leading to NLNG. You won’t stop us.”

Meanwhile, the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, JNDLF, yesterday, threatened to set seven flow stations ablaze in Bayelsa state.

However, the Egbesu Boys of Niger Delta, a militant group said that the ongoing warfare in the Niger Delta region was an Ijaw fight for self-determination and not Niger Delta struggle as generally assumed by many.

Before the Rivers attack, NDA daringly posted at about 8.12 pm on its Facebook page: “Another major pipe about to go up in flames! Brass, LNG, Boom.”

It said any attack by the Nigeria Army might result to human casualties but the group does not want to take life, otherwise, it would have dared the army.

“”For every life you take, we take two. We have our reason, we play cool, we are ready, and we must cripple the economy. Boom, Share,” the group added

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Friday Amobi, Port Harcourt

Hundreds of youths in Rivers State on Tuesday took to the streets of Port Harcourt in protest against the incessant attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

The youths who came together on the aegis of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Rivers State branch, also protested against cultism and other social vices in the state.

The protest followed the increase in attacks on oil facilities, oil theft and cult-related activities in the region.

The youths marched from First Artillery to Azikiwe road in Port Harcourt with placards bearing several inscriptions such as ‘We need peace in the Niger Delta’, ‘Attacks on oil facilities must stop’, ‘Support Belemaoil to restore peace in the region, and ‘We don’t need cultism’.

The President of NYCN in Rivers State, Mr. Sukubo Sara-Igbe, said the protest became necessary because of the rise in the cases of kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.

He said the activities of vandals were affecting the economic wellbeing of the region, calling on aggrieved youths not to resort to destroying pipelines and other oil facilities.

Sara-Igbe, while thanking Belema oil for providing 520 jobs for youths in the state, warned the youths to desist from cultism, pipeline vandalism and every other activity that would threaten peace in the area.

“We are making this protest so that youths will shun armed robbery, oil theft and embrace peace so that investors can come in and invest in the state and in the region,” he said.

“Rivers youths are now on their feet to protect those investors that will come into the state. We do not want our youths to be disturbing investors.

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Friday Amobi, Port Harcourt

Hundreds of youths in Rivers State on Tuesday took to the streets of Port Harcourt in protest against the incessant attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

The youths who came together on the aegis of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Rivers State branch, also protested against cultism and other social vices in the state.

The protest followed the increase in attacks on oil facilities, oil theft and cult-related activities in the region.

The youths marched from First Artillery to Azikiwe road in Port Harcourt with placards bearing several inscriptions such as ‘We need peace in the Niger Delta’, ‘Attacks on oil facilities must stop’, ‘Support Belemaoil to restore peace in the region, and ‘We don’t need cultism’.

The President of NYCN in Rivers State, Mr. Sukubo Sara-Igbe, said the protest became necessary because of the rise in the cases of kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.

He said the activities of vandals were affecting the economic wellbeing of the region, calling on aggrieved youths not to resort to destroying pipelines and other oil facilities.

Sara-Igbe, while thanking Belema oil for providing 520 jobs for youths in the state, warned the youths to desist from cultism, pipeline vandalism and every other activity that would threaten peace in the area.

“We are making this protest so that youths will shun armed robbery, oil theft and embrace peace so that investors can come in and invest in the state and in the region,” he said.

“Rivers youths are now on their feet to protect those investors that will come into the state. We do not want our youths to be disturbing investors.

Niger delta crisis: youths protest over attacks on oil pipe

Friday Amobi, Port Harcourt

Hundreds of youths in Rivers State on Tuesday took to the streets of Port Harcourt in protest against the incessant attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

The youths who came together on the aegis of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Rivers State branch, also protested against cultism and other social vices in the state.

The protest followed the increase in attacks on oil facilities, oil theft and cult-related activities in the region.

The youths marched from First Artillery to Azikiwe road in Port Harcourt with placards bearing several inscriptions such as ‘We need peace in the Niger Delta’, ‘Attacks on oil facilities must stop’, ‘Support Belemaoil to restore peace in the region, and ‘We don’t need cultism’.

The President of NYCN in Rivers State, Mr. Sukubo Sara-Igbe, said the protest became necessary because of the rise in the cases of kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.

He said the activities of vandals were affecting the economic wellbeing of the region, calling on aggrieved youths not to resort to destroying pipelines and other oil facilities.

Sara-Igbe, while thanking Belema oil for providing 520 jobs for youths in the state, warned the youths to desist from cultism, pipeline vandalism and every other activity that would threaten peace in the area.

“We are making this protest so that youths will shun armed robbery, oil theft and embrace peace so that investors can come in and invest in the state and in the region,” he said.

“Rivers youths are now on their feet to protect those investors that will come into the state. We do not want our youths to be disturbing investors.

Fayose : Bank account still Frozen

Ado-Ekiti- The Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, failed to order the unfreezing of two accounts belonging and operated by Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State with Zenith Bank, adjourning hearing in the case involving the governor and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC till September 30, 2016.
File: Ekiti state Governor Mr Ayodele Fayose.File: Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo adjourned the case till September 30 on the request of Fayose’s counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who sought for adjournment to be able to respond to issues raised by the EFCC in its reply to a motion on notice dated 23rd June, 2016 wherein the applicant sought an order lifting the restriction placed on Fayose’s accounts with Zenith bank .

The EFCC’s counter position was supported with 10-paragraph affidavits and a lone exhibit by the EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo.

Oyedepo argued further that the EFCC had on the 29th of June received an order of the court directing the commission to appear and show cause why a mandatory order being craved by Fayose should not be granted to unfreeze the two accounts already restricted with the bank.

This was supported with 10-paragraph affidavit and nine exhibits marked EFCC 01 to 09, adding that the plaintiff and the 2nd respondent had been duly served.

The Court had on June 28 ordered the EFCC to appear before it and show cause why Fayose’s restricted accounts in Zenith bank should not be lifted.

Fayose had in an ex parte motion deposed to by Bimpe Olatemiju prayed the court to grant a mandatory order lifting the ban placed on the said accounts, describing the EFCC’s action as an infraction and brazen infringement on absolute immunity conferred on Fayose by Section 308 of the 1999 constitution.

While opening his defence at Monday’s proceeding, Oyedepo said : “We received the order of the court on the 29th of June, 2016 at our office in Lagos directing us to appear before your lordship for freezing of the accounts of the applicant in the custody of the 2nd respondent .

“We have complied with your order as a law abiding agency by filing all necessary papers and the plaintiff and the second respondent have been duly served”, he said.

Ozekhome, who confirmed the service of the papers, pointed out that he was served three minutes to the start of the hearing, which he said had foreclosed his readiness to argue the case on point of law.

“My lord, I was served three minutes to the start of today’s hearing . But glancing through this bulky document, virtually all the issues raised were issues we never touched upon.

“We don’t want to be caught by the cul de sac of the Supreme Court’s averment that evidence not denied are deemed admitted, because it is a trite law.

“It is only reasonable and proper that we have given the opportunity to traverse everything they have raised and argue and with this, they have foisted an adjournment on us”, he said.

Adjourning the suit till September 30, 2016, Justice Taiwo assured that all the pending applications and the substantive suit will be
taken together expeditiously.

The Judge, who broke the news of his vacation, which he said will make it difficult for short adjournment , suggested to the parties that the matter could be transferred to a vacation Judge in Abuja and Port Harcourt to handle, if the adjourned date seems afar, which the plaintiff’s lawyer had vehemently rejected.

Ozekhome said: “My lord, the vacation Judge may find it difficult to understand the background of the issue. You are aware of everything and we are not in a hurry. We will wait till you come back”, he said