Poll: Ex-Militants Warn Tompolo, Asari-Dokubo To Steer Clear Off Bayelsa

Poll: Ex-Militants Warn Tompolo, Asari-Dokubo To Steer Clear Off Bayelsa ‎ By Osa Okhomina Concerned ex-militant leaders from Bayelsa State have expressed concern over the alleged involvement of the foremost ex-militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo known as Tompolo and the leader of the Niger Delta People Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo in the violence witnessed in the governorship elections in the state. According to the ex-militant leaders under the aegis of the Niger Delta Peace Yoke Leadership Initiative led by Comrade Excel Toriomo, though the effect of the political tussle between the All Progressives Congress APC (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State is having on the Ijaw race is known, the involvement of none-Bayelsans like Asari-Dokubo and Tompolo is more grave and volatile. According to the group, “Our group strongly warn Tompolo and Asari Dokubo to stay clear from the collective decision of the Bayelsa people. They should be saddled with the challenges of facing the EFCC rather than coming over to Southern Ijaw to foment non-existing troubles and crises in Bayelsa State. However, it is pertinent to note that the ex-agitators of Bayelsa State challenge Tompolo and Asari Dokubo to come to Southern Ijaw if they are willing; history may not forget that date because the world would know that it is not business as usual. He that has ears should not only hear but listen. Surely ‘who the gods would destroy, they first make mad. “Chief Timipre Sylva fought for the relative peace enjoyed by the Niger Delta people today. The amnesty programme introduced by the late President Umara Musa Yar’adua was made possible by the effort of Chief Timipre Sylva. The amnesty programme remains the only benefit from the federal government where education, skills acquisition and training was made possible for the youths and ex-agitators of Bayelsa State.” Dickson Counsels FG over security agencies The Bayelsa State governor Seriake Dickson has warned the federal government against the use of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force for selfish political gains, saying the sudden redeployment of the state commissioner of police, Nasiru Oki, few days before the January 9, 2016, supplementary election is mischievous and wrong. According to Dickson, the sudden redeployment of the state commissioner of police, Nasiru Oki, will not affect his anticipated victory in the re-run election in Southern Ijaw and other 101 units of the state, but the misuse of federal institutions for political gains will destroy the integrity of the institutions and the nation’s democracy. Dickson, while speaking during an interactive session yesterday in Yenagoa with the media and other stakeholders in the state at the Banquet Hall of the State Government House, warned that the federal government’s use of the institutions to protect alleged perpetrators of electoral violence in the state and promote electoral fraud will only throw the integrity of the institutions into question. He said, “I have raised question on the aberrations by some officials of the federal government institutions. “They should stop using the Federal Institutions to serve personal purposes. Don’t destroy the credibility of the institutions because on the altar of personal ambitions. The institution’s integrity is called to question and democracy is destroyed. On the alleged N200million bribe alleged to have been handed by him to the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC, Baritoh Kpagih, Dickson dismissed it as “campaign of calumny”,saying that ” I have never had any close interaction with the REC.I have mobilized the people of the state in every community and would not engaged in electoral fraud.” Bayelsa ready for election–IPAC The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) yesterday faulted the claims by some youth groups and politicians that the people of Bayelsa State are not ready for the January 9th supplementary election in Southern Ijaw local government area and about 101 units of Ekeremor, Nembe and Sagbama areas of the State. According to the IPAC,a group made up of members of the existing political parties, said though claims of alleged insecurity and non-readiness by the youth groups and politicians have been discovered to be false and unpatriotic, the people of the over 101 units and Southern Ijaw area are ready for the election. The IPAC, in a statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa, said the state is peaceful and every concerned voters are ready for the election. Ex-Militant leaders shun Police summon over fear of arrest Scores of Ex-Militant leaders in Bayelsa State yesterday shunned the summon by the State Command of the Nigerian Police to appear for a meeting over the intelligence report on security threat against the conduct of the re-run election in 101 units of Ekeremor, Sagbama, Ogbia and Nembe and Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the State. The meeting, according to the letter of invitation dated 31st of December,2015 ,was convened by the Police through the office of the State Intelligence Bureau led by DSP, Ondo Gbekumo. LEADERSHIP gathered that though the meeting was considered mandatory by the Police Command, only two Ex-Militant leaders, Pastor Reuben Wilson known as General Pastor Reuben and General Joshua Machiver were present at the meeting held behind close doors. Sources at the State Police Command confirmed that the likes of the Former Second-In-Command of the defunct Movement for the Emacipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Dr. Ebikabowei Victor-Ben known as Boyloaf, Segt. Wari Digefa, Silke Kiletorughedi known as Young Shall Grow, Gen. Africanus Kaprasia known as General Africa and Comrade Eris Paul known as Ogunboss shunned the meeting. Confirming the development, the spokesman to the State Police Command, Astimin Butwat, said that the two ex-militant leaders attended the scheduled stakeholders meeting and that “the discussion were fruitful.” Leadership