Fresh facts about the reasons former militant, Alhaji Mujahideen
Dokubo-Asari, took on the Goodlluck Jonathan-led administration have
emerged. The former militant, it was said, was angry over the revocation
of his multimillion naira contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC).
Dokubo-Asari had, at a recent press briefing, come hard on the
Federal Government, rubbishing the administration of President Jonathan
and decrying some of the government’s policies, even though he had at
some time in the past appraised the government highly.
Indications, however, emerged that the former militant’s anger was
fuelled by the decision of the management of the NNPC to revoke the
contract it awarded to some of the former militants for the security and
protection of oil pipelines and installation in the Niger Delta area.
Dokubo-Asari, it was said, was hard hit by the decision, hence his attack against the Federal Government.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta,
Honourable Kingsley Kuku, Dokubo-Asari was well notified of the decision
to revoke the contract and the reason behind the action. The
government, he said, wanted to ensure equity and proper protection of
oil pipelines and not just to dole out patronage to some individuals in
the Niger Delta because they are former militants.
Honourable Kuku, who is also the chairman, Presidential Amnesty
Programme, disclosed at a media interaction at the weekend that the
revocation of the contract by the NNPC was not punitive, but to bring
sanity into the entire operations.
“It was taken to bring order to the entire programme. For instance,
Dokubo-Asari, who is my friend, was told to register his organisation
with the Corporate Affairs Commission. Upon registration of a proper
company, he would, of course, have his staff working for him. If he had
done that, he could then reapply for the same contract,” Kuku stated
further, adding that government felt the need to properly channel
security activities in the Niger Delta by ensuring that those given the
contract to secure pipelines had full control of their areas and that
they were from the particular area the pipelines passed through.
According to him, it would be improper for Dokubo-Asari, “who is from
Kalabari, in Rivers State,” to take the contract to secure pipelines in
Bayelsa ahead of a native of Bayelsa, just as it was doubtful if
Tompolo would secure Kalabari area better than Dokubo-Asari. “Government
felt that the security of the pipelines should be well spread, for
maximum effects and that people from a particular area should secure the
facility in their area. That way, we would have effective protection
for these facilities,” he stated, adding that government wanted to do
things properly and not just for anyone to be collecting millions of
naira from government.
“What If another government comes tomorrow and decides to discontinue
with the arrangement? I believe the decision was taken to even protect
the interest of the like of my brother, Dokubo-Asari,” Kuku said.
Meanwhile, those who may be thinking that the amnesty programme of
the government will run forever, should perish the thought as the
programme, it is said, will terminate in 2015.
Kuku, who is the chairman of the programme, disclosed that it would
officially terminate in 2015. He, however, disclosed that some elements
had been finding ways to abuse the programme, even when it had since
been declared close in 2009, alleging that some members of the military
Joint Task Force were in league with some of such individuals, claiming
they were militants and were ready to surrender their arms and embrace
the amnesty programme.
But Kuku said that for the avoidance of doubt, the amnesty programme would not run forever.
“It should end in 2015,” he noted.
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