Militants threaten to dump Jonathan over Okah
•Dokubo-Asari opposes Amaechi, backs Sekibo
By Akanimo Sampson, Bureau Chief, Port Harcourt




– Momodu


Militants are threatening to withdraw their support for President Goodluck Jonathan unless he directs that the trial of the Abuja blast suspects be made open in line with democratic norms and international conventions which bar secret trials.

They particularly frown at the secret trial of Charles Okah, younger brother of Henry Okah, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) leader who is also undergoing trial in South Africa in connection with the twin bombings on the Independence Day in Abuja.
They warn Jonathan that the conduct of the trial could make them hold back their support for his 2011 presidential ambition.
Network of Niger Delta Freedom Fighters (NNDFF), a coalition of insurgents and rights groups, told Sunday Independent that secret trial falls short of global practice and therefore portrays the Jonathan administration in bad light.
NNDFF spokesperson, Nengi James, claimed in an interview that the secret trial of the suspects violates some international conventions such as the United Nations Human Rights Convention (UNHRC) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, all of which Nigeria is a signatory.
James insisted that whatever outcome of the trial would be subject to suspicion, as were other such secret trials before now, because Abuja appears to have sealed the fate of the suspects well before the trial.
James added: “We are not comfortable with the secret trial because it is like one of those kangaroo trials during the era of military dictatorship in the country.”
He called on the government to throw the trial open if it has nothing to hide in a democracy, and said failure to do that would erode their support for Jonathan.
Indications also emerged at the weekend that most Niger Delta insurgents may have relocated to Abuja to mobilise support for Jonathan against the zoning advocates, just as others are infiltrating the perceived relevant political parties.
Worried by the undying controversial issue of zoning, some repentant militants are said to have concluded plans to also relocate to Abuja where they want to be closer to the corridors of power to counter the zoning system of the PDP, insisting that it is either Jonathan for President in 2011 or nobody.
Source said the relocation plan is aimed at lobbying youths from other geo-political zones, especially the Northern axis, as well as warn Northern elders against taking any decision capable of plunging the country into crisis.
Arrowheads of the relocation plan are said to be the MEND former sector commander, Ebikabowei Victor-Ben (Boyloaf), Eris Paul, or Ogunboss, and many others.
Paul told Sunday Independent that their movement to Abuja should not be perceived as a threat.
“We are not going to Abuja to cause trouble but we have observed that the President is under threat and held hostage by some northern cabals. We want to see for ourselves. We want to know why the Northern Elders have the right to threaten the President on the issue of zoning and Presidency in 2011,” he added.
[b]That is coming on the heels of fresh political realignment in Rivers State ahead of the 2011 ballot, with Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) leader, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, throwing his support behind the governorship ambition of Abiye Sekibo, a former Transport Minister in the Olusegun Obasanjo regime, and adding to the political worries of Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
Dokubo-Asari’s support for Sekibo is a surprise to watchers of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state.
Before now, the NDPVF leader was said to be opposed to Sekibo because of his perceived closeness to Ateke Tom, a repentant militant leader.
The Dokubo-Asari’s machine was also said to have been deployed against the state Chairman of ACN, Uche Okwukwu, an Ikwerre, who lost his State Assembly seat to Amaechi in 1999 at the election tribunal because the former did not have a voter’s card.
In a seeming dramatic twist, Dokubo-Asari, Okwukwu, and a host of others joined Sekibo to storm Okrika, the country home of President Jonathan’s wife, Patience, penultimate Saturday.
At their Okrika outing, Dokubo-Asari stealthily played up the alleged face-off between Patience and Amaechi as well as the alleged “brutal murder” of Soboma George, a repentant militant leader believed to have fallen out of favour with the Amaechi government.
He reportedly said: “What Rivers people are interested in is how the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) can help recover all our stolen monies. There is fire on the mountain in Rivers, and all those who messed things up must be pushed out in 2011.
“A government that budgets $3billion (USD) a year, telling Rivers people of monthly savings is now going cap in hand to the capital market to source for loans on behalf of the people. What happened to the monies purportedly saved on behalf of the people?”
[/b]

I guess now the Ijaws think they will rule anything that is around them.

To hell with militants. How many are they? Do they vote or decide who votes for who?

chyz1:

I guess now the Ijaws think they will rule anything that is around them.

This is not based on tribe but on the belief of the militants.

Dokubo better forget campaigning (1.) For that murderer called Sekibo (2.) Against the popular Amaechi.

It seems Dokubo has truly gone mad. I'm sure he would remember how many of his boys were slaughtered by Ateke in 2003 with the backing of Sekibo.

Ibime:

Dokubo better forget campaigning (1.) For that murderer called Sekibo (2.) Against the popular Amaechi.

It seems Dokubo has truly gone mad. I'm sure he would remember how many of his boys were slaughtered by Ateke in 2003 with the backing of Sekibo.

Lets hope you people believe in democracy, as in one man one vote and also in law and order. If it is common knowledge that Dokubo's boys were murdered by Ateke in 2003, why the heck is Akete not in prison and why would dumb Jonathan invite such a criminal to the White house( I mean Aso Rock)?

People like you, Ibime, must be passive enablers of these criminals.

yours worst enemy could be your best friend, and your best friend could be your worst enemy. GEJ is a disaster even his cult mate are rejecting him.