Former militant leader, Asari Dokubo has accused the Yoruba community of betraying the Ijaw and Niger Delta people despite their support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election.
In a video circulating online, Dokubo expressed regret to former Rivers State Governor Melford Okilo and other regional leaders for doubting their past decisions to ally with the North.
The former militants emphasized that the Ijaw and Niger Delta people will no longer work with the Yoruba, whom he labeled as “betrayers.”
Asari Dokubo pledged that the Niger Delta would focus on strengthening ties with the northern region, forming a lasting alliance.
He said, “I apologize to our fathers Melford Okilo and Prieye that they were not wrong for forming an alliance with the North, and as young men, we will now start same alliance with the North now.
“As from today, I will work! Work! to form alliance with the North and crush any other opposition, because for those who hate us, we do not mean anything to them. Whatever Ijaw people do does not mean anything to them.
“All over Ijaw land, we will spread the message that it is only northerners who can work with Ijaw people !…. We cannot work with Yoruba people they are betrayers !!!….. We risked our lives, voted, and did everything and this is what we get ?”
His lamentation is said to be unconnected the Tinubu’s recent decision to scrap the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
Tinubu on Wednesday through a statement issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga announced the scrapping of the Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of Sports Development.
The statement read, “President Tinubu and Federal Executive Council scrap Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of sports development.
“There will now be a ministry of regional development to oversee all the regional development commissions, such as Niger Delta Development Commission, North West Development Commission, South West Development Commission, North East Development Commission.”
The Niger Delta Ministry was established under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to address environmental degradation and promote youth development.
The Yar’Adua government also created The Presidential Amnesty Programme to transform ex-agitators into entrepreneurs and/or employable citizens who will become net contributors to the economy of the region and the country.
As part of Yar’adua amnesty incentives, the federal government awarded massive cash rewards to Asari and other terror leaders of the Niger Delta.
Asari received an annual cash payment of US$10 million a year from Abuja as part of the federal “pipeline security protection fee” to protect the Rivers State pipelines and creeks that the militants bombed, kidnapped and killed the workers and guards in the areas.