Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo, an ex-militant and founder of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, has threatened that the Niger Delta will respond in equal measure to Tuesday’s attack on the convoy of President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Asari-Dokubo vowed that attack on the president would not go without retaliation.
If you missed the news, NewsWireNGR had reported that Security forces, on Tuesday, averted what was potentially an ugly situation, as hundreds of supporters chanting ‘sai Buhari’ attacked the motorcade of President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina.
A combined unit of soldiers and anti-riot policemen dispersed the supporters as they surged forward with the intent to attack the president and his delegation, as they visited the house of Hajia Dada, mother of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua in her residence at Yar’Adua Quarters, Katsina.
In his reaction to the attack, Asari said, “There is an established pattern of pre and post-election violence in the north. In the 50s when late Awolowo was campaigning in the north, he went with helicopters and he was mocked,” .
“People said he was flying over the houses and peeping at their wives. That has continued and everywhere in the country, people say leave them alone. We don’t want any trouble. But I think the game has changed. The rules of the game have changed.
“For every action, there will be an opposite and equal reaction. I knew that the signing of the accord was useless and that the president subjected himself to sign such an accord… for me, it was out of place for a president and commander in chief of the armed forces of a country. But the president is a humble person. He does things that even marvel some of us and make us sometimes to be very angry.
“To be frank, I was very angry on that day they were signing it. The president has sworn to protect the lives of every Nigerian. So, why would he after taking a constitutional oath subject himself to another oath?
“So what happened in Katsina is not a surprise. But don’t be surprised. We are putting the world on notice that they have started first. When we reply, let no body talk because we are going to reply. We did not sign any accord with them. They did not sign. They are talking about election violence now because they know that other people will respond.
“Before, they had the monopoly of violence, so nobody cared who died. Our lives were not valuable and they had all the latitude to wreck havoc and did what they liked. But the game has changed. Be bold enough to tell them that game has changed. If they slice our throat, we are going to slice your throat. They stoned the president, you will hear from us. That’s the answer.
“My concern is what happens after the election because we know they will do what they are known to do every time. But this time, they will cry. So all Igbo people who are there, if you don’t come back home and you want to continue to be there and something happens to you, there is nobody to be blamed. If you have a child who is a youth corper and you allow him to be there, you will not hold anybody responsible.”
“There is no way Goodluck will not win the election. We will win them and we know they are preparing for violence in consonance with some foreign powers. When they do that, we will respond disproportionately. We will respond. That’s what we are going to do. If you hit me with a stick, I am going to hit you with iron. I am not speaking in riddles. I am speaking in plain language. My English may not be very good. I am speaking in my own street language. We are going respond disproportionately and we are unapologetic.
“The people who are in Katsina who did not hold their children should also know that I will not hold my children. I assure you, nothing will happen anywhere if they do not initiate violence. Did we ask them to stone the president yesterday? Do you want us to fold our arms so that they will kill him?
