PORT HARCOURT — LEADER of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo, said yesterday that his group had pulled out of the on-going peace process with the Federal Government, saying his men were going back to the creeks until the Federal Government was prepared for genuine talks.
Speaking to Vanguard in Port Harcourt, Alhaji Dokubo said: “I cannot say whether the peace talks with the federal government will lead to a peaceful end. I can only speak from what I have seen and observed and I can tell you that the process has not been transparent and this lack of transparency I always knew would not sustain the process. The NDPVF has engaged in deep consultations and we have resolved to back out of the peace process.”
Asked to expatiate, Alhaji Dokubo said: “All I can say now is that President Obasanjo is not committed to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. All he seems to be pursuing is to see that the oil keeps flowing without considering the agitations of the people of the region and that kind of attitude can't sustain the peace efforts.
“The Federal Government, for instance, also continues to give licences to people to lift oil and when you look at it closely, you’ll discover that these licences are given to people who are not natives of this region. We are pulling out of the peace process.”
Alhaji Dokubo had said he lost faith in the peace process, Monday, at the Bori Camp, Port Harcourt when the Minister of Defence, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Governor Peter Odili were supervising the destruction of the weapons surrendered by armed groups.
Dokubo had noted that “I am a member of the committee. Ateke Tom submitted eight rifles. So, why should they announce that he submitted above the exact number? So the number has increased? Why are they deceiving us in the state. Ateke submitted eight rifles which I am aware of and there is no way the government would deceive me. In fact, the government is trying to cover Ateke. Why should they pamper Ateke.”
The commissioner for information, Mr. Magnus Ibe, had explained to him, “we said the Ateke and other militia and cult groups submitted 689 arms and not only Ateke. So, please take it easy, so that we can sort it out, okay.”
Dokubo continued: “This is man’s inhumanity to man. It is injustice and not fair play. Why should the government be treating me like this, when nothing has happened to Ateke Tom. I know what is going on because I have my security network everywhere.
“Why should they expect me to hand over all my weapons, when Ateke has not handed over all his weapons to the government?" he asked.
