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IJAW NATION GROUP CONDEMNS ASARI DOKUBO UTTERANCES
By Mohammad Yau.
Ijaw Consultative Assembly has described the recent utterances of Mojahedeen Asari Dokubo as garrulous and joke taken too far in his efforts to foster alliance with Hausa /Fulani of northern extraction .
In a press statement issued on Monday from Yenegoa by the President of the body and the Secretary, Julius Ekpokememi and Chief Tariebi Ari recognized the genuine alliance between the North and the South over the decades as legendary.
The utterances of Dokubo , according to the release was on the testament of the renaming of the Niger Delta Ministry to Ministry of Regional Development to accommodate other regional agencies created for the purpose intended.
While further describing his video utterances as vociferous, with the impression that government’s decision was an abberation, a direct confrontation against the ijaws of the Niger Delta by the current administration.
His impression as an attempt by the present administration to whittle down the growing all round development in the Niger Delta, is a calculated attempt to whittle down the success been recorded in the last one year by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the region.
While giving the impression to Nigerians as a betrayal of the ijaws by the Yorubas, his beliefs of derailing the original government developmental efforts is erroneous.
The body maintained that in as much as he is entitled to his opinion, the die is not cast for Asari Dokubo to lead a leadership forum for the emancipation of the ijaws in the Niger Delta.
While identifying his idea of eating from both side of his mouth , they warned on the consequences of creating needless altercations between the Ijaw nation and O’odua nation as unacceptable .
Ijaw Consultative Assembly said the self imposed leader of Ijaw nation , Dokubo’s ploy to amass needless wealth, recognition and connection from the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has failed.
“The ever garrulous, talkative, Mojahadeen Asari Dokubo, recently went a notch further in his regular tirades, bumbling about a self assigned resolve to lead the Ijaw Nation into an alliance with Hausa/Fulani of the north.”
“He cited past alliances that existed between the North and Ijaw pioneer leaders of the 1950s/1960s. ”
“Asari’s burst of temper came on the heels of the reconfiguration of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, to accommodate development agencies recently created for other zones, by the federal government, and renamed, Ministry of Regional Development.”
“In a recent video making the rounds on social media, the vociferous Asari saw the innovation as an aberration – a sacrilegious affront against the people of the Niger Delta Region, most especially the Ijaw Nation, by the President Tinubu led federal government.”
“Asari whined endlessly of the change as a Yoruba agenda to abort the existing template adopted for the Niger Delta region’s development – a design to whittle down the geopolitical zone’s progress and interest.”
“Asari Dokubo called the federal government action a Yoruba betrayal of Ijaw People.”
“Asari opined that new nomenclature tends to derail the original intent and purpose for the establishment of the Niger Delta Ministry.”
” The Mojahadeen is entitled to his opinions, even if he spoke from both sides of the mouth. We know he once talked glowingly of Ahmed Tinubu before and after the general elections of 2023.”
“However, we don’t know where the bus left him, which led to this doublespeak.”
“The Dokubo’s comments were meant to incite unrest in the Niger Delta, but up to this moment of putting pen on paper, they haven’t sparked the spontaneous convulsions he contemplated, or fuelled a vista of feud between the Ijaw Nation and Odua People. ”
“His self-serving outburst has had little or no impact.”
“It is in fact unclear who appointed Asari Dokubo the Ijaw nation’s leader, or its spokesperson. His incendiary and inflammatory rhetoric only serves to seek attention from the Federal Government. His activism has for long lost credibility, and his influence is limited to a handful of illiterates, miscreants and thugs.”
“The Ijaw Nation has not descended so low to the point of requiring Asari Dokubo to lead it. His immaturity, unstable disposition and verbose nature, cancelled him completely in any lineup to pick leaders amongst the Ijaws. ”
“He remains unfit to aspire for leadership in our amidst – talk more of being at the head an alliance emissary between the Ijaw nation and the Hausa/Fulani, if ever there is to be one.”
“Asari is uncouth, he exhibits the likeliness of a buffoon, and therefore cannot lead anyone in the 21st century, except barbarians.”
“Those who aspire for leadership must exercise self restraint, be reserved, good natured and must not display love for filthy lucre.”
“With avarice written all over him, Asari at the inception of the Tinubu administration, goaded himself pompously – making audacious and embarrassing press statements in the Presidential Villa, on behalf of the new administration, without authorization.”
“It was good riddance to a bad rubbish when Mr. President without much ado eased him out of the Villa surroundings. Ever since his oust, he has been craving attention.”
“We hope Mr. President indulges him soon.”
“In consonance with the foregoing, Asari coming out to rant about Yoruba betrayal of the Ijaw Nation sounds like an old wives tale. It bears no weight nor a resemblance of truth. It is a mere figment in his warped mind. They say a drowning man would clutch even at a straw to stay afloat. Asari Dokubo didn’t represent the Ijaw people in his recent outburst. He should be ignored and left to stew in his juice.”
“The Federal Government and Armed Forces are to blamed for failing to address his audacious display of armed followers. In reality, Asari’s grievances stem from unmet personal expectations, particularly financial gains, from the President Tinubu’s administration. ”
“His ego bruised from being ignored, Asari’s rantings therefore target Mr. President. However, educated and rational Ijaw individuals see through his manipulations. The Presidency should continue to disregard his outbursts as those of a frustrated man accustomed to living off public funds.”
“The former militant leader has no loyalty for anyone. Whatever he does is for personal gains. He was chased out of Yenagoa by the youths once led, when he tried to host a youth meeting. It was because they don’t trust him. Asari has never done any honest work in his entire checkered existence. Yet he has piled up wealth over the years – all through rascality. ”
“Rather than build a university in Ijaw Land, he chose Benin Republic. An investment that could have benefited the region, in terms of employment and education. How can such a duplicitous man say he is a leader. A leader of who? He only supports courses for pecuniary motives.”
“Asari Dokubo is therefore a villain, a pariah and betenoire in the Ijaw nation. Ijaw or Izon means truth and integrity, traits which he lacks. How can such a fellow say he wants to head a team for Ijaw alliance with the Hausa/Fulani?”
SIGNED:
CHIEF JULIUS EKPOKEMEMI
PRESIDENT
CHIEF TARIEBI ARI
PUBLICITY SECRETARY
The Nigeria Police Force said it has completed the extradition of Benjamin Best Nnayereugo, widely known as “Killaboi,” from Doha, Qatar, to Nigeria.
Killaboi, who had been on the run for the murder of Augusta Onuwabhagbe, was returned to the country in the early hours of today, Saturday, through the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Justice, INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Abuja and the Qatari Judicial Authorities.
The extradition followed a petition from the family of the deceased, submitted through their legal representatives, dated 29th September 2024.
A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi, said the matter was assigned to INTERPOL NCB Abuja, after which investigations revealed that the suspect murdered Onuwabhagbe, a 21-year-old first-class student of Lead City University, Ibadan, in his residence located at No. 24a Abiola Apooyi Street, Oral Estate, Ajah, Lagos, on 13th July 2023. After committing the crime, he fled Nigeria and later released an online video purporting to confess to the act, a deceptive strategy to derail investigative efforts.
Following his declaration as wanted by the NPF Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) on 13th October 2023, an INTERPOL Red Notice was issued for his global apprehension.
The statement said “He was initially arrested in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 20th October 2023 under the false identity ‘KANU PRINCETON SAMUEL,” but escaped custody during a prison break on 26th November 2023 in Freetown.
“Further intelligence gathering revealed that the suspect continued to evade law enforcement, traversing multiple regions including West Africa, East Asia and the Middle East, under forged identities before eventually relocating to Doha, Qatar on 24th January, 2025. Operating under the alias “TOURE ABDOULAYE” with a fraudulent Guinean passport, he secured illegal employment and concealed his identity.
“Through robust international cooperation and the use of advanced biometrics, INTERPOL NCB Abuja, in collaboration with INTERPOL NCB Doha, confirmed his identity, leading to his arrest by Qatari authorities in February 2025. An official extradition request, processed via the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, was subsequently approved by the Qatari judicial authorities, resulting in his repatriation to Nigeria.”
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, while recognising the strength in the synergy amongst nations to curb trans-border crimes, commended the diligence of INTERPOL NCB Abuja.
He extended appreciation to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Government of Qatar, INTERPOL NCB Doha, and the Nigerian Embassy in Qatar for their invaluable collaboration in securing the fugitive’s return.
The Inspector-General of Police further assured the general public of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to ensuring that the suspect faces diligent prosecution, as part of the NPF’s dedication to justice and the safety of all Nigerians.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has appealed to the Federal Government to step up and deal with rising insecurity in the state as the death toll from the recent attacks by suspected herdsmen on Ukum and Logo local government areas in the state has risen to 56.
The governor made the call on Saturday when he visited the scenes of attacks by suspected herdsmen in Ukum and Logo local government areas to ascertain the impact of the attacks.
Addressing journalists after the visit to the affected communities in the two local government areas, Alia condemned the violent attacks on the defenseless people and called for greater action from security agencies to nip these killings in the bud.
The governor used the visit to engage with community leaders and their people whom he assured of a better deal in addressing all forms of insecurity.
He also called for calm and urged the people to resist the will to resort to self-help
Security has also been beefed up in the Sankera axis where these attacks happened to restore confidence, while emergency services and relief items have been extended to the two local government areas.
In neighbouring Plateau State, also in the North Central geopolitical zone, over 100 people have been killed in the last two weeks when bloodthirsty marauders unleashed mayhem on communities in the Bokkos and Bassa local government areas of Plateau State.
Muhammad Auwal Jatau, Bauchi deputy governor, has denied reports claiming that he slapped Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, during a high-profile event in the state.
The alleged incident was said to have taken place on Friday inside a white coaster bus conveying dignitaries from Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa international airport to the Bauchi emir’s palace.
The dignitaries were en route to the turbaning of Mohammed Abubakar, a former governor of the state.
According to unverified reports, an argument broke out after the minister allegedly made disparaging comments about Bala Mohammed, Bauchi state governor.
Jatau was said to have slapped the minister in reaction, reportedly in the presence of Vice-President Kashim Shettima and other prominent figures.
But Muslim Lawal, spokesperson to the deputy governor, described the claim as “false and baseless”.
“No, no, no, how can the deputy governor slap the minister? I don’t think that ever happened in Bauchi because I know my principal is a responsible person,” he said.
“The number two person cannot slap a minister or whoever person that people are talking about. We are not even aware of that. I am just hearing this from you.”
Lawal questioned the credibility of the viral report and called on anyone with evidence to present it.
“Did you see the evidence of the slap? I didn’t see it, I’m just hearing about that from you,” he said.
“But my belief is that there is no way the deputy governor will slap a minister. I don’t think such can ever happen in Bauchi, not even my principal or whoever is in his position.”
He said there was no reasonable provocation for such an act.
“What is even the issue that will make the deputy governor slap a minister?” he asked.
“I was not in the car and if there is any evidence that the deputy governor did such, maybe we can speak on that, but as of now, I don’t even know about it. That’s our position.
“And I don’t even think that the deputy governor, even if it is not in the presence of the vice-president, can do that.”