by Kolapo Olapoju
Niger-Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, better known has Tompolo, has declared that President Jonathan must win his re-election bid for the country to remain undivided.
His comment was a reaction to the calls for arrest of militant leaders by General Theophilus Danjuma.
Former Niger-Delta militant leaders had threatened war should the president fail to get re-elected, and the retired general had subsequently called for their arrest over their utterance.
However, in a statement by Tompolo’s Media Adviser, Paul Bebenimibo, he wondered why Danjuma failed to condemn the stoning of Jonathan’s convoy in Katsina and Bauchi states, yet wants the militant leaders arrested.
He asked: “Is Gen. Danjuma not aware of the peaceful atmosphere when Gen. Buhari visited Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states for campaign? Why is it that President Jonathan’s convoy was attacked in Kastina and Bauchi states without any provocation?”
“Where was this so-called statesman when the APC campaign Director General, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, threatened to form a parallel government if Jonathan wins the 2015 elections?”
Ekpemupolo reminded Danjuma that the treaty which brought the Southern and Northern Protectorates together in 1914, expired in 2014.
He added: “Let Gen. Danjuma and his cohorts know that they will not see any Ijaw man, Igbo and others to fight on their side if the war that they are planning breaks out.”
“And finally, Gen. Danjuma and his cohorts should know that I remain resolute on my position in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, that President Goodluck Jonathan must win this election for Nigeria to continue to stay together.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, condemned the war threats by the militants at a news conference in Abuja, on Thursday, saying that there was no basis for the ex-militants to be making such utterances since President Goodluck Jonathan had declared his intention to concede defeat if he loses the February 14 presidential election.
He said: “It is reprehensible for people to threaten this country with mayhem should their candidate lose the election . The President, Dr. Jonathan, has not left anybody in doubt as to his preparedness to conduct a free, fair, credible and transparent election. Mr. President has said that in the unlikely event of his losing the election, in the course of this exercise, that he was straight man enough, he was democratic enough to concede defeat.”
“So, if Mr. President himself, who is the main contestant, who is the President of this country, who is the leader of the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) has come out to say that he was going to ensure free and fair elections where the choice of Nigerians would be respected, I do not see where statements from supporters of either Mr. President or any political party for that matter should derail the course of this democratic movement,” Moro added.
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