Says FG is deceiving the people of the Niger Delta
As Annkio-Briggs insists no parcel of land will be given for cattle crazing in Rivers State
While Wike maintains he will continue to defend the interest of the Niger Delta
Admin l Wednesday, May 23, 2018
PORT HARCOURT, Rivers, Nigeria – A Niger Delta freedom fighter and activist, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, has threatened that any attack by Fulani herdsmen on any Ijaw man or woman would be resisted with counter attacks. Dokubo spoke on Wednesday at the 50th remembrance day celebration of Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro, who was a Nigerian soldier, nationalist and one of the pioneers of minority rights activism in Nigeria in Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital.
He said, “we know what they are doing and we are ready for them, if they touch an Ijaw son or daughter, then we will resist it with maximum force.”
The activist said that the federal government of Nigeria was deceiving the people of the Niger Delta region, regretting that the FG has failed to fulfil the promises it made to the Ijaw people.
“The Federal Government promised to do Ogoni clean up, after three years, that clean up has not been done. They promised to do coastal roads, have they done it? No. They also promised to build Lagos-Calabar rail roads, they have failed on that one too. The Federal Government of Nigeria is deceiving the Ijaw people. What the Ijaw people want is the dignity of the Ijaw people and freedom.”
Speaking at the event, an environmental rights activist, Ann-kio Briggs, said that Rivers people want development irrespective of ethnic group, adding that the state will no longer tolerate outsiders coming in to cause division and chaos. She reiterated that Rivers people will not welcome herdsmen to set up tents in any part of the state, saying “No inch of Rivers state land will be given to people who are coming from Niger or any place to claim our land. They should stay where their kit and kin are, we don’t want them to come and take our land, although everyone is free to travel but nobody is free to set up tent here.”
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike who also spoke at the event, vowed to defend the interest of the Niger Delta people despite intimidations and threats. Wike said that the interest of the Niger Delta people is more important than any personal interest as the region has contributed immensely to the growth of the country, adding that nobody can intimidate him in his quest.
“Nobody should use party to deceive us, our interest is more important because the people of the Niger Delta have contributed a lot for the country.
Nobody can cow me, whether they like it or not, I will continue to defend the interest of the people of the Niger Delta.”
Meanwhile, comrade Abiye O. Abe, IYC stakeholder from Tombia, Eastern zone, while explaining the relevance of the Isaac Boro day’s celebration maintained that the Ijaw people will continue to echo the message of their hero, Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro.
He said, “Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro stood against the Nigerian government for the Neglect of the Niger Delta people and for this reason, he was shot and killed by Nigeria bullet from behind but the message he left behind will never die. That is a day set aside to remember him and to celebrate him not to mourn him because he is an Ijaw hero, the propounder of the Niger Delta struggle.”
