A pressure group called the Political Watchdog of Nigeria (POWAN) has described some Niger Delta agitators as self-seeking freedom fighters whose main concern is lining their pockets, not bringing development to the region.
POWAN President, Curtis Ugbo, criticised the leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, for acquiring huge properties and building universities while pretending to be fighting for the people.
Ugbo recalled in a statement that before Goodluck Jonathan became President in 2010, agitation for resource control was at its peak, spearheaded by Dokubo, Clark, Ledum Metee, Ankio Briggs, Opunabo Nko’Tariah, and others.
He wondered why when Jonathan came to office, the self-styled activists became his spokespersons and “abandoned the struggle.”
Ugo said they “were always on television telling Nigerians and the world how the South South has been marginalised by the North and the West despite her oil. By a divine act, Goodluck Jonathan from the South South became President after Umaru Yar’Adua’s death in 2010.
“His emergence came as a joyous daybreak to end our age-long marginalisation. There was a beacon of hope for my region. But immediately, the Niger Delta struggle stumbled and died or went into comatose ….
“In 2011, Nigerians; Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Christians and Muslims; voted massively for Goodluck Jonathan.
“Thereafter, administrative thieves were appointed ministers and head of federal institutions, convicted criminals received presidential pardon, militants were given contracts running into billions of naira, impunity and corruption became the norm; all these and many more replaced the Niger Delta struggle for resource control.
“The need for constant electricity, portable water, good health facilities, good road network, massive manpower development went into oblivion.
“Even the recent Ogoni UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) report that would have changed the lives of an average Ogoni man was not implemented by their regional brother-president which played a major role in the problem with [former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
“Ken Saro wiwa, Isaac Boro and others, who actually fought for the wellbeing of the people, refused kickbacks and agitated for basic amenities for their people, but today struggle is glamour; thieves obtain money and embezzle it.
“Ijaw community has land but they prefer to build schools in Benin Republic.”
POWAN cautioned those who are being asked to take up arms and go back to the creeks to first demand accountability from the so-called freedom fighters before embarking on such mission.
