* His comment may pitch Nigerians against Military, APC chieftain warnsKemi Olaitan in Ibadan
A Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Maja-Maja Group (MMG) yesterday, called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Directorate of State Services (DSS) to invite a former Niger-Delta warlord, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, for questioning over his allegations against the military on oil theft.
The group in a statement by its National Coordinator, Adesina Akinpelu, said Asari-Dokubo needed to make more clarifications about his allegation, stating that he should be bold enough to mention names of military officers involved in the criminal act.
Asari-Dokubo had while speaking with newsmen after a meeting with Tinubu in Abuja, last Friday, accused the military of being at the centre of oil theft in the Niger-Delta region and that 99 per cent of oil theft could be traced to the Nigerian military, especially the Army and the Navy.
He also explained the reason why Tinubu must not release detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
But the Yoruba socio-cultural group maintained that Dokubo was just scheming to rubbish Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (a.k.a Tompolo) before the administration of Tinubu, adding that no amount of his hypocrisy would rubbish Tompolo’s achievements in the Niger-Delta region, especially as regards the protection of petroleum pipelines.
Adesina also condemned the call for continued detention of Kanu by Dokubo, describing it as an act of hypocrisy.
He stated that it was uncharitable for him to call Kanu a criminal that should be made to face the law, all because he (Dokubo) was seeking for pipeline contract from Tinubu.
He then enjoined Dokubo to remember that he himself was once detained by the federal government during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The group similarly urged Tinubu to use the proposed population census exercise to get accurate data base for the country, noting that this would be needed if the administration really desired to address the socio – economic and political problems facing Nigeria.
It added that both the BVN and NIN policies could not address the lingering insecurity problems in the country because of the lack of accurate data base.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Akinola Kazeem has warned that the recent statement by Dokubo, was capable of pitching Nigerians against the military.
Kazeem, in a statement issued yesterday, urged Tinubu to be wary of those who are out to blackmail the military to score cheap goal.
The APC Chieftain described Dokubo’s utterance as unfounded and unfortunate and should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.
He said “This statement by Dokubo is capable of setting the country ablaze. His statement may pitch Nigerians against the military and create room to distrust, and this is not good for the country.”
The retired military officer recalled that Dokubo at a point was awarded the contract to secure the pipelines in the Niger Delta region, saying he should also explain why there was oil theft in the region.
He said Dokubo has no moral right to talk down on the military because he has been in the business of securing the pipeline for years, yet oil was stolen under his nose.
The APC chieftain challenged the ex-militant to come out clean and make his intentions known to the president if he was lobbying for contract to secure the pipeline instead of blackmailing the Nigerian Military.
“If Dokubo is looking for contract to secure the oil pipelines, he should say it instead of blackmailing the military before the President. This is totally unacceptable,” Kazeem said.
Kazeem wondered why Dokubo who was a beneficiary of the amnesty programme for ex-militants could talk down on the Nigerian military that was instrumental to the peace enjoyed in the Niger Delta now.
He warned the former militant to desist from misleading the president by blackmailing the military whom he said has been instrumental to the stability the country enjoys currently.
“I advise Dokubo and his co-travellers to desist from talking down on the military who have sacrificed a lot to keep the country together and also restored peace in the Niger Delta Region,” he added.
