₦airaland Forum

LEADER  of the Niger Delta People Peoples Volunteer Force/Niger Delta People Salvation Front, NDPVF/NDPSF, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, has come under fire over his most recent eruption that the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who is the leader of the Federal Government delegation on the Niger Delta peace process, should stop visiting the region.

Dokubo Asarim, Don Idada Ikponmwen & Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo The fiery Niger Delta militant leader in an interview published in our last edition had lashed out at the Itsekiri, Urhobo and other ethnic nationalities in the region, accusing them of unjustly reaping from struggles embarked upon by Ijaw people which they did not participate in. His words: “I do not believe that there is conflict between the Niger Delta as a whole and the Nigeria state, but rather, it is between the Ijaws and the Nigerian state. Let us not put it with the Niger Delta because when Ijaws fight and die, a lot of these individuals come and claim benefits. When benefits come, they come out. When Ijaws are fighting and dying, they sit in their houses and call us all sorts of names. We have never gone to their territory to look for their problem, we are in our land and doing what we think is right for ourselves.”

He posited among other things that Prof Osinbajo’s widely praised confidence-building visits to the region in the past few months were unwarranted, stating categorically: “This issue of jamboree by the vice president is funny. Are they our overlords or are we being colonized that they are coming to visit here and there? Don’t they know what is right? Former Provost Marshal of the Nigeria Army and South-South leader, Brigadier-General Don Idada Ikponmwen (retd.), Itsekiri ethnic nationality leader and former Commissioner in Delta State, Chief Omolubi Newuwumi,  National Secretary of Urhobo Youth Leaders Association, UYLF, Comrade Vincent Oyibode and others, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard, during the week, sharply rebuked the militant leader for his supposed imprudent explosion.

Narrow-minded ranting Ikponmwen, who said he laughed at the rabble-rousing remarks of Dokubo-Asari when he read his interview in Saturday Vanguard, last week, said much as the ex-militant leader misfired, he spoke the minds of many Ijaw people, who had derided other ethnic groups in the course of the agitation. He, however, said that Dokubo-Asari and his ilk were wrong, adding: “I, therefore, see as purposeless and meaningless his comments in the Saturday Vanguard publication. We must urge him and others of his like to have a serious rethink and come to terms with the need for reality and mutual cooperation among the entire people of the Niger Delta if the region’s predicaments are to get the desired attention and cooperation of other Nigerians, and the central government in particular.”

He said: “I have for long known and observed that the predominant view of the average Ijaw person in Nigeria is that the problem of the Niger Delta area begins and ends with the Ijaw nationality. They regard all non-Ijaw as ‘peripheral’ or “upland Niger Delta” far away and removed from the hardship of those of the creek areas of the region that are essentially of Ijaw habitats.” “This is the mind-set that has been so obvious from the attitude and utterances of the likes of Dokubo- Asari and    substantially also explains why other nationalities of the Niger Delta (South- South in particular) were alienated and sidelined during the tenure of President Jonathan. “This selfish, myopic and unpatriotic attitude remains a canker-worm in the collective efforts of the entire Niger Delta to speak with one voice and to properly articulate their joint problem. It is selfish and irrational for people to seek cooperation of those they generally disregard only when they need wider support for their agitation.

“There can be no success in the struggle for socioeconomic emancipation of the Niger Delta area unless and until there is a concerted and unified effort by all constituents of the region,” the retired army officer asserted. Horrible flare-up Omolubi, who also spoke to Saturday Vanguard in a comparable element, said: “There was evidence of a misplaced outburst against Prof Osibanjo over his visits to the Niger-Delta region, which Asari claimed were mere jamborees. This outburst is not only regrettable and shocking, but also terrifying and disappointing.” He declared: “Dokubo-Asari- cannot be guaranteed a place in sanity if he calls such visitations by the vice president jamborees when the visits were aimed to make the entire region better than it is at present. If he claims the federal government is insensitive to the plight of the people of the region, common sense should have dictated to him that there is nothing wrong if the federal government decides to right the wrongs of past governments.” “These visitations embarked by the vice president are needed to build confidence to enable it to carry its laudable programmes for the region. In the vice president’s recent visitations, he was able to meet, face-to-face with stakeholders; from elected leaders to the ordinary people, and very important inputs were made on how best to address the myriad and lingering problems facing the region. If Dokubo-played himself out of these meetings for selfish reasons, why is he complaining? Visit already producing result In this short while, some benefits have already been made following the vice president’s visits. These include the presidential order directing the international oil companies operating in the region to relocate their headquarters in Nigeria to the region. And the promise of the support and establishment of modular refineries in the region as against illegal ones that cause spillages and pollution. 

These practical orders and other policies by the government would definitely bring about development to the region. “It is laughable for Asari-Dokubo to claim in his unwarranted outburst, that the vice president embarked on these visits because of what he called the ‘Ijaw oils.’ He should be aware there are nine oil producing states in the region. And constitutionally, the oil belongs to us all. “It is also disturbing when he referred to his arms conflict as ‘struggle’. He and other ex-militant leaders, who engaged in all sorts of illegalities, did so for their selfish benefits. As wealthy as he is reported to be, he does not have any viable investment in the region. The only institution which he owns was built in Benin Republic. “Suffice to say that Dokubo-Asari is seeking some form of relevance with his disconnected outburst, he should not be seen or even heard granting these interviews, except he is paying for them as personal announcement, it makes no meaning at all,” Omolubi added. Who is Dokubo-Asari? In his retort, Oyibode, an Urhobo youth leader, said: “The recent outburst by Dokubo-Asari that the Urhobo and other ethnic nationalities are benefiting from Ijaw struggle is misleading and insulting. Niger Delta is comprised of various ethnic nationalities; Urhobo is the fifth largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria rich with abundance oil and gas.”

“Urhobo youths and groups, including Urhobo Scholars, are in the forefront of the struggle, Dokubo-Asari Asari promoted by Urhobo youth leaders, one of whom is Comrade Rex Anighoro, presently a Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State. There is no group that has struggled hard in the Niger Delta than Urhobo youths. “Dokubo-Asari was known to be committing a lot of nefarious activities such as illegal oil bunkering, taking oil workers hostage along the creek of Okirika in River State. He was arrested and put in underground cell before President Jonathan pleaded for his release,” he said. Parading for discounted recognition His words: “The result of Dokubo-Asari on the struggle for the emancipation of the Niger Delta people is selfish and self-centred. If I must ask What was Dokubo-Asari business that earned him money to build a university in foreign land? Is the university he built in Ijaw land? Why did he choose to build it in Benin Republic,    develop another man’s land    other than the Niger Delta he claims he struggled for? Did the hotel he built in Calabar bring any development to Ijaw land? “Chief E. K. Clark built a private University in his hometown; this is development that must be appreciated. Ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo is a youth that Dokubo-Asari should emulate; he influenced the Nigeria Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko and the Deep Seaport of the EPZ to Gbaramatu.    He struggled to make a council chairman and a Deputy Governor, what has Dokubo-Asari done for the people of Okirika? He said. Oyibode asserted: “Dokubo-Asari is only looking for cheap popularity from the government of President Muhamudu Buhari, but his time has passed. He is only trying to confess how they hoodwinked former President Goodluck Jonathan to abandon the Urhobo in his administration.” “His usual and unguarded statement was the reason Jonathan lost the election in 2015, Dokubo-Asari should note that the votes given to Jonathan by the Urhobo people were more than the votes from Okirika and the whole votes from Bayelsa state. He spoke for himself, not Ijaw    “The stage we are in the Niger Delta now has gone beyond the antics of people like Dokubo-Asari. All ethnic groups in the region now work together as brother under the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, led by Chief Edwin Clark. “You can recall that the group made a-16 point dialogue demand to the Federal Government and asked the government to come down and see things for itself and the President commissioned the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osibanjo, to go round the states of the region. Today, the Niger Delta people commend President Buhari for the concern he has shown and after the visit, you can see that peace has returned,” he asserted. He stated: “I wish to call on Dokubo-Asari to be part of the prevailing peace and let all ethnic groups in the region work together as one instead of fighting and attacking each other in the media. But I know Dokubo- Asari did not speak for the Ijaw nation, he only ventilated his selfish and barbaric opinion. Dokubo-Asari cannot get any attention by fighting against other ethnic groups. At his level, if he has nothing to say or contribute for the region to move forward, he is advised to sit at home and keep quiet. Urhobo remains committed to struggle The youth leader declared: “The Urhobo nation remains committed to the struggle, we join in calling on the Federal Government to implement the promises made so far such as immediate take -off of the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, quick establishment of the modular refineries, award of pipeline surveillance contract to ethnic communities, the EPZ Gas project, Ogidigben.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/04/outburst-osinbajo-ndelta-ethnic-tribes-bini-itsekiri-urhobo-leaders-tackle-dokubo-asari/

twistedBalls:
Lwkm na the back you dey see ,lol I use to think the school is not in existence.

so you know the school? A lot of shitty things have been going on there.

naijafella:
It's OK. The world needs to know.

thanks my brother. Very grateful.

Statsocial:
Heard about this a while ago. There are some private universities that are not worth the trouble....

thanks a lot my brother. You're very correct. These things are totally absurd. But pls spread the world until it becomes viral.

See as their face be like wetin dem slap shit put.

naijafella:
Is it not that uncompleted and abandoned property along Benin-Sapele Road? Do you call that a tertiary institution? I heard it's owned by Ibori James, the ex-convict. You are not supposed to even consider attending in the first place.

I'm not the affected person in question. It's something that has been happening. The school is fond of telling ex students who have graduated and have finished serving that they have carryovers whenever they come for their transcripts. There's currently an ex student who's suing them as we speak. It has gotten out of hand. The student is even planning on involving the press as well and that would spell doom for the school. I'll be very happy if you could create awareness by spreading it.

I should clearly state that this is totally absurd and clearly haven't been heard of in any sound educational institution across the globe.

Before I pour out my total grievances against this institution, a brief introduction is necessary for those who are not familiar with the name.

LOCATION:

Western Delta University is located in Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria. It was established in 2007 and is a private university.

VISION:

The Vision of Western Delta University is to serve as a first rate institution committed to the pursuit of excellence in all areas of academic learning, technology development and social service

Normally, I would commend the above statement if not for the fact that my attention has just been drawn to the recent happenings within the school.

It has been confirmed by various sources that the school is quite fond of telling students whom the senate has approved their results, mobilized for nysc, given statement of result and call up letters that they have carryovers whenever they're coming to collect their transcript

My question here is where in the world has anyone heard of a situation such as this?

I mean back when I was about writing my finals,the rest of my course mates and I were made known about our academical standings prior to graduation in order not to gain false hopes on the said day.

One could only imagine that after all the celebrations and thanksgivings for being able to scale through a four or a five year programme without any bad experiences like the proverbial "Seeds falling by the way sides*, you are given the biggest shock of your life that your journey hasn't even ended and you are needed to complete whatever course you "might" not be owing or perhaps courses that has been waved/cleared earlier by the Senate Board.

Close sources has informed me that a student is even about to sue the university as I write this article.

The educational system in Nigeria shouldn't be this epileptic and the responsible bodies governing the University Organizations like the National Universities Commission should please wake up and put these "institutions" in check.

Most times I hear people saying poverty cannot be eradicated from Nigeria and whenever I ask them why they say because it's human nature. That they would always have Rich and Poor people for capitalism to thrive. But I asked myself a question yesterday while I was alone in my thoughts?

Isn't it possible to reduce poverty if every street trader, petty trader, hawker or those who don't earn much are empowered financially with let's say 1m each to start any business of their choice? Let's assume we give these people 1m each to invest into any business of their choice, won't that automatically eradicate poverty in the land? Just asking though.

Nigerian women are very ungrateful.

So?

Rubbish

In a sane institution the likes of the Registrar and the Deputy Registrar of Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State ought to have been fired for their incompetence, carelessness, negligence and stupidity but because the university is run by criminals parading themselves as academicians, anything goes.

The transcript issue so far has shown that everybody that makes up the senate committee including the Vice Chancellor are all foolish people. A secondary school shouldn't even be left to people like these because it's evident that have nothing upstairs. On the other hand, a certain Mr Ezute was the instigator of the whole issue on ground. Mr Ezute is well known by even the students to be a "Natural Sadist" who takes pleasure and delight in doing evil even with his bad leg.

If during your school days you people weren't given any issue when you came for your transcripts, it shall never be well with you and your generations but if not so let the opposite be the case.

May God help Nigeria. It seems we are being targeted everywhere.

Why are Nigerian universities always fond of making a fool of themselves? Something similar is happening in Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State. The school is fond of telling students who have graduated and finished serving that they have carryovers whenever they come to the school to request for their transcripts.

@sirwere it's my duty to ensure that the issue rocking the school is resolved amicably because a lot is at stake here.

tutudesz:
We are going to put pressure on the school. They can't be bigger than the students at all. They must settle peacefully because they will not destroy someone future over mistake.

you're blessed my brother. Thank you very much. I just hope the ex students intervene as planned. The school is at fault and not the students. They shouldn't be intimidating them but rather looking for a way to settle out of court.

tutudesz:
I think its time for wdu to have alumni association to fight for students and I will have to speak with others pioneers to make of time for a general meeting in a month or 2. Will let you know detail later.

thank you very much. I'm willing to be of help. Also always you guys investigate any issue thoroughly because most times you don't judge a story from one side. Thank you very much and may God bless you.

tutudesz:
it too early for such a thing to be happening. Were a student?

sure it is. And it doesn't tell well of the school. Ex students are supposed to be ambassadors to the institutions they graduated from. That's the essence of going to school and serving your nation. I have a relative who's affected by this issue and that's why I'm angry.

No I didn't graduate from the school. I graduated from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada but I have two relatives who graduated from the school.

tutudesz:
this issue will result in NUC recalling all ex student back to verify their result,because they can't tell the world they mobilized non graduate for nysc.

thank you my brother. You're very sound. It might even lead to the shutting down of the school. As it stands the affected students have a very strong case against the school. Some of them were given even an extra year by the school for various reasons and from what I can deduce they all served their extra before they finally graduated. Under the law the affected students can sue for victimization and intimidation because they duly served whatever punishment they were given by the school. Imagine after 5years in the university only to be told this trash? Haba. It doesn't make any sense. It is outright wickedness and the public would condemn the school.

tutudesz:
I graduated from wdu 2011, so it very sad to hear such news and I have spoken to others pioneers about this development and we would like to know more and what the school is doing to correct this. Has a pioneer am more concerned of the wellbeing of students than that of the school.

that's more like it. This is what I expected from the beginning rather than coming on Facebook to support the wicked act of the school. I'm sorry for my earlier rant. I believe in justice and being fair. The fact I'm here today is by God's grace and not by my power. I believe this world is a very small world and so I believe in doing the right thing at all times. We dont know where our pacts might cross and so it's always necessary to be fair and humane in our dealings. The school is giving itself a bad reputation with issues like these. Imagine the fact that they've been more than 15 cases like these. What does it tell of the school and it's management? If this issue goes more than the way it is it would be very bad for the school cos it would damage their reputation. I'm happy you said you're more concerned with the welfare of the students than anything else. The school should give the affected students their transcripts so they can move with their lives. That's my honest opinion. It won't cost them anything.

The school shouldn't stall a man's progress due to their incompetence and negligence. No matter what must have happened the school should give the affected students their transcripts and allow sleeping dogs to sleep and not even lie.

tutudesz:
I asked you a simple question, instead of answering your next step was insulting me. Did I insult you? No! so why the insult.

you're saying nonsense and that's what warranted the insult. How can you openly support the injustice, victimization and intimidation of a fellow human being? If there was any form of fraudulent graduation why didn't the school detect it? How did the school clear, mobilize and issue them notification of result? How did the school senate committee approve their results? I get very angry at oppression and I'm very loud about it. I don't know how to hide my feelings. I'm sorry if I insulted you but it was what you said that made me angry. Do you know they've been more than 15 of such cases that has occurred in the school? I don't expect you to know cos they won't tell you. What wrong has a student done for fighting for his or her right? If you were the one would you be happy that more than 3years after graduation and after passing out of service only to request for your transcript in order to move forward to the next level of your life only to be told you're having carryovers, how would you feel? I hate injustice and wickedness and I'll stand against it. Are you trying to please the school or what?

@tutudesz if you're not stupid or if you're not a fool you won't have made such a stupid comment. Who paid to pass? Can you bring evidence of the payment or the bank teller to show that money passed hands? You're a very big fool and I won't bother to banter words with you cos it obvious you're stupid. If the person paid to graduate why is the school is not charging him or her for forgery? How come the so called students went for service and still had their results approved by the senate? Why am I even bothering myself answering you? You're very irrelevant just like your entire school.

Daboomb:
The allegation was that HE NEVER GRADUATED FROM ABU........ and is only using a FORGED CERTIFICATE.

Stop trying to muddle issues, you dolts!

if he truly forged anything then ABU should come out and say so. I don't support any politician but I won't support anyone damaging the image of another person.

tutudesz:
What your aim with posting this round? Are you trying to destroy so many people future or what?

please if I may ask how am I trying to destroy any body's future? Is anything false about what I posted here? Isn't it happening? Isn't the school fond of telling students they have carryovers whenever they come for transcript? If you were sent by the school better go back and tell them to stop making a fool of themselves.

seanet02:
A carry-over in a core course and he go still graduate that year Haba Egbon please wake up

in a core course and yet the school graduated him right? The senate doesn't have a case. There's currently a case happening tomorrow in Oghara between a former student and Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State. The student graduated in 2014 and finished serving in 2015 and came back to collect his transcript in 2016 only to be told he was having 12 carryovers. Mind you this student was cleared by the department, faculty, exams and records and his result was approved by the senate as well. He was equally mobilised for service by the same university too. What would you say about?

And if he had a carryover so what? Did he forge his certificate? Did he buy it? Was he cleared by the university or not? Was he eventually issued a certificate or not by the same school? The senate should look for something else and stop being childish. They don't have a case.

stephleena:
I suggest Igbo language instead..

why igbo?

People of colour make up one third of the world's population and due to this factor the need to have a central language every African anywhere in the world can relate with is necessary. By the term "African" I am equally referring to Caribbeans (Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Bermuda, Barbados etc), African Americans, Afro-Cubans, Afro-Brazilians, Afro-Argentines, Afro-Colombians, Afro-Costa Ricans, Afro-Venezuelans, Afro-Mexicans and every country in the Americas where there's an African population outside the continent of Africa.

Recently a lot of African Americans have been migrating to Ghana, Sierra Leone and other parts of Africa and they're also connecting more with their African identity. This to me is a step in the right direction because they are Africans who were displaced by the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and the Trans Saharan Slave Trade. Let's put aside the global separation amongst melanated people because at the end of the day we are all Africans. Let's equally reach out to the Dravidian people of India, Aboriginal Australians, Samoans, Papua New Guineas and every melanated person from the Pacifics as well.

I am half Nigerian and half German but I've long embraced my African spirit because Black people are the root of every civilization and from which every race evolved. Before the demise of great Pan Africanists like Mummar Gadaffi, Kwame Nkwurah, Patrice Lumumba, Thomas Sankara, Marcus Garvey and the Great emperor Hallie Selassie, they preached Pan Africanism and the need to embrace our African spirit. It's time to have an African Central Bank and also a unitary currency to put an end to modern day slavery and Neo-colonialism.

She's one of those Slay Queens. Smh. Nigerian girls and stupidity.

myplaydiary:
Mumu, why dint you answer my question or do you lack working brains. My Question remains I hope you didnt add Igboland In SS in your utopia, delusional Niger delta republic, Edo man ntor... dont worry i wont make you cry on this thread cause i know you are looking out your window for Ijaws as you type, you know you are dead when Ijaw start dropping bombs on your deity and numbskulls. :Pntor

I'd rather not reply a flat head.

Amarabae:
Why not go to court instead of this antiethnic ranting?
Let the judiciary decide on who owns the land.

there's already a supreme court judgement on Gelegele and it was awarded to the Binis because they know the land belongs to the Binis. The Ijaws want to look for trouble and we are ready for them.

omofunaab:
@Op, ijaws don't have lands in ondo state.. .those guys migrated there.

The land belongs to the ilajes

thanks for the info. I never knew. I always taught ijaws were part and parcel of Ondo.