The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO), has urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party to call to order, Niger Delta ex-militants, who have threatened to declare war if Jonathan loses the February 14 presidential election.
A statement by the media and publicity director of the APC campaign organization, Malam Garba Shehu, said the ultimatum, which was issued by the ex-militants last Saturday at the end of a meeting they held inside the Bayelsa State Government House, is not only a barbaric threat on the sovereignty of the country but also negates the spirit and letter of the non-violence pact to which President Jonathan is a signatory.
The APC presidential campaign said the declaration of war against the state was causing panic and concern among Nigerians who are already embattled by so many challenges, particularly insecurity.
The APCPCO reminded the president that as commander-in-chief, it was his primary responsibility to ensure the protection of the citizens and their property.
He added that such open declaration of war by the ex-militants and several other acts of violence must be denounced by the president in the interest of democracy, unity and stability of nation.
Shehu said those beating the war drums now needed to change to peace beats so that the citizens, especially the youth, would be encouraged to show that the sustenance of the country’s democracy “is better achieved through the ballot and not the bullet”.
The APC campaign also called on Jonathan to make good on his declaration that his “re-election is not worth the blood of any Nigerian by calling these war-mongers in his domain to order”.
The statement pointed out that the latest threat was not an isolated act, adding that the threat on General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) by Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose and the attacks on the party’s offices and rally in Rivers State, were pointers of a coordinated insurrection against the APC ahead of next month’s general elections.
According to him, “it is disconcerting that the president has not immediately addressed such treasonable actions by persons, who in the past, have taken up arms against the nation and whose amnesty is dependent on their good behaviour and complete disarmament.
“The president needs to remember that he took an oath, as commander-in-chief, to protect Nigeria against all threats, external and internal. In this case, his silence could be misconstrued as an implicit approval of this declaration of war, seeing as the meeting of the warlords and subsequent declaration of war were from his own backyard, his home state.
“The first step the President needs to take, to show seriousness in dealing with this issue is to dismiss from his government, his Special Adviser on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku who presided at the meeting at which this obnoxious resolution to dismember Nigeria was taken”, the statement said.