Mark Lenu
A prominent leader of the Niger Delta extraction and the Edi-Abali of Kalabari Kingdom, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari has analysed some of the core issues that are hindering the collective development of Nigeria as a country.
In a chat with newsmen at his Obuama hometown on Thursday, Alhaji Asari who is also a renowned security expert said the ruling political class is promoting and protecting foreign interest at the expense of Nigeria’s sovereignty.
According to him: “Our government does not have the will to defend our collective rights and heritage as a nation. What foreign interest is our government protecting that it can not protect our own sovereignty?”
Speaking on the oil economy of the country, Alhaji Asari maintained that the removal of fuel subsidy by the Tinubu led federal government was a good move but the funds realised from the subsidy removal have not been properly managed.
He also wondered why indigenes are allowed to extract solid minerals in the North while licensing of petroleum production is highly politicised against the Niger Deltans.
He said Rivers State is capable of owning its refinery but the state political actors are afraid of attempting it because if they do, the Abuja politicians will remove them from office.
Concerning the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Alhaji Asari described him as a negative force in the presidency who shouldn’t have been appointed to serve in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
While urging Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State to stand firm and defend the mandate freely given to him by Rivers people, the Edi-Abali also hinted that Wike is being allowed to disturb the political peace of Rivers State because Governor Fubara does not want trouble. “I believe in the kingdom of God suffereth violent and only the violent taketh it by force,” he said.
Alhaji Asari further clarified that he had no face off with the military, adding that his stance on sincerity remains what he will not allow anybody to take away from him.
He also lambasted Nnamdi Kanu, describing him as a criminal who ordered the killing of several innocent people in the South-east, saying that the decimating of the Eastern Security Network of the IPOB was a good move.