Pipelines attack: Don’t bow to ‘cheap blackmail’ of ex-militant leader – Activist to PMB
– Ayimi Emami, a Niger Delta activist, urged the federal government not to bow to “cheap blackmail” antics of an ex-militant leader who is allegedly behind the recent attacks on oil facilities and pipelines in Delta state
– Although Emami did not specifically mentioned Tompolo, it was clear that he was alluding to the former Niger Delta militant leader
– According to Emami, the recent attacks are part of a move to make President Muhammadu Buhari belive that “only this wanted criminal can safeguard oil facilities in the region”
Niger Delta militants
Chief Ayimi Emami, a Niger Delta activist, has called on the federal government not to bow to “cheap blackmail” antics of a former militant leader who is allegedly behind the recent attacks on oil facilities and pipelines in Warri area of Delta state.
The Niger Delta Avengers claimed the responsibility for the incident and noted that onslaught on the Chevron Valve Platform was in line with its pledge to the Nigerian government to cripple the economy.
“Those who have issues bothering on criminal activities and illegalities should go to the court to answer did their deeds and clear their names rather than resorting to cheap blackmail to arm-twist the federal government and the EFCC to drop the charges against them.
“One man cannot hold the FG to ransome; he cannot hold the nation by forming a parallel government within the Nigerian state,” he stressed.
READ ALSO: Pipeline vandalism: Tompolo writes letter to Buhari, implicates APC members
The Nation reports that Emami did not specifically mentioned Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) in his statement. However, it was clear that he was alluding to the former Niger Delta militant leader, who is currently wanted by the anti-graft agency over his dealings with NIMASA during the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan.
Although Tompolo had earlier denied any links with the Niger Delta Avengers, Emami was not impressed by the gimmick and described it as “a plain childish prank”.
“It has now become a pattern for this wanted man to preempt the attacks by placing advertorial denouncing the group and after which the group would strike again.
“This is a clear and plain childish prank; disown the group three days before they strike and they would attack, blow up oil facilities and give a farcical reason for the attacks.
“The last time he said some APC members are behind the attacks, how did the ‘leader’ of the PDP become so abreast of the workings of these so-called disgruntled APC members? Who does he thinks he is fooling? What intelligence does he have to know who and when the attacks will come?” he wondered.
READ ALSO: Tension in Niger Delta as militants threaten Tompolo over letter to Buhari
According to Emami, the recent attacks are part of a move to force President Muhammadu Buhari to soft-pedal on investigations of large scale fraud and theft of public fund during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan.
“They want to make Nigerians and Mr President to believe that only this wanted criminal can safeguard oil facilities in the region in order to pave the way for another bazaar in the name of pipeline/facilities surveillance.
“But we want to urge Mr President to be steadfast and not give in to the antics of criminals because those who are genuinely committed to the development of the Niger Delta are behind him,” he said.
The Niger Delta Avengers had earlirer issued a warning to President Muhammadu Buhari.
In the statement titled ‘Nigeria is a failed entity’ the group said that the president should hold a national conference where Nigerians would be allowed to vote on whether or not to divide the country into four self-governing regions.
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