The pan-northern socio-political group, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has warned Niger Delta ex-militant leaders – Asari Dokubo, Government “Tompolo” Ekpemupolo, Ebikabowei “Boyloaf” Victor-Ben and others to desist from threatening a former Minister of Defence, Gen Theophilus Y. Danjuma (rtd) following his recent call on the Federal Government to arrest the former militants over their recent remarks that they will wage war against Nigeria if President Goodluck Jonathan loses the presidential elections.
In their reactions to Mr. Danjuma’s threat, the ex-militants asked him to apologise or risk having his assets attacked by them. The ex-minister is Chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO) with installations in the oil-rich Niger-Delta.
However, a statement issued and signed by the ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Muhammadu Ibrahim in Kaduna on Monday, warned that it would not accept any threats from anyone on a man, who they described as an elder statesman who fought for the unity of Nigeria.
“ACF and indeed all Nigerians hold Gen T.Y. Danjuma, former Chief of Army Staff and Defence Minister in high esteem, as a revered patriot, elder statesman and a philanthropist of repute who fought for the unity of Nigeria and has continued to play this fatherly role even in his old age”, the statement said in part.
The Forum added that it would not accept any threat to Mr. Danjuma’s person or his business assets or to any law-abiding citizen for that matter by any group or individuals in the name of militancy.
“ACF wishes to remind the Niger Delta militants that President Jonathan did not ascend to his present position through threats and intimidation, but rather through democratic means of canvassing for votes without any form of molestation throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria in 2011.
“The same process the President and other candidates vying for the office shall go through to emerge as Nigeria’s President in 2015 and not through intimidation, threats and ultimatum”, it said.
The ACF spokesperson said the Forum viewed such threats and intimidation by the ex-militants as an affront not only to the ex-minister but an attack on a democratically elected Federal Government of Nigeria, over which President Jonathan presides. “It is also an open challenge to the nation’s security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Security and even the Nigerian military that are responsible for maintaining law and order and any form of internal and external aggression against Nigeria”.
The statement called on the Federal Government to urgently take necessary steps and contain this emerging threat to national security by Niger Delta ex-militants to avert any ugly consequences.