“Drums Of War: Call Niger Delta Ex-Militants To Order”

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Sunday, January 25th, 2015

Ayodelle Afolabi, Abuja – The All Progressives Congress Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has urged President Jonathan and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to call to order Niger Delta ex-militants who have threatened to wage war against the country in the event that their “son” loses the February 14 presidential election.

The APCPCO said in a statement by Garba Shehu, Director of Media & Publicity of the campaign that the irresponsible ultimatum by the ex-militants is not only a barbaric threat on the sovereignty of our Republic, but goes against the spirit and letter of the non-violence pact to which President Jonathan is a signatory.

Shehu observed that the declaration of war against the state is causing panic and concern among Nigerians who are already embattled by so many challenges particularly of insecurity, which have been begging for attention.

The APCPCO reminded President Jonathan that as commander-in-chief it is his primary responsibility to ensure the protection of the citizens and their properties and that such open declaration of war by the ex-militants and several other acts of violence need to be denounced by him in the interest of the democracy, unity and stability of Nigeria.

According to Shehu, these drum beats by elements associated with President Jonathan need to change to peace beats so that the citizens, especially the youth need to be encouraged that the sustenance of the country’s democracy is better achieved through the ballot and not the bullet.

The APC Campaign called on Jonathan to make good on his declaration that his “re-election is not worth the blood of any Nigerian”, by calling these war mongers in his domain to order.

The Campaign noted that the latest threat is not an isolated act as the threat on General Muhammadu Buhari by Governor Fayose and the attacks on the party’s offices and rally in Rivers are pointers of coordinated insurrection against the APC ahead of next month’s general elections.

“It is disconcerting that the president has not immediately addressed such treasonable actions by persons who in the past have taken up arms against the Republic, and whose amnesty is dependent on their good behaviour and complete disarmament. “The president needs to remember that he took an oath, as commander-in-chief, to protect Nigeria against all threats, external and internal. In this case, his silence could be misconstrued as an implicit approval of this declaration of war, seeing as the meeting of the warlords and subsequent declaration of war were from his own backyard, his home state,” Shehu said.

“The first step the President needs to take, to show seriousness in dealing with this issue is to dismiss from his government, his Special Adviser on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku who presided at the meeting at which this obnoxious resolution to dismember Nigeria was taken,” added the statement.