The All Progressive Congress on Tuesday said it will hold the leader of the disbanded Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mujahid Dokubo-Asari responsible should any harm befall its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
In a letter to the Presidency, the acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba and the Director General of the State Security Service, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, over the recent threat of violence by Mr. Dokubo-Asari against its spokesman, the main opposition party asked the government and security agencies to call the ex-militant to order.
The letter signed by APC National Secretary, Mala Buni and made available to journalists in Abuja, said in view of the antecedents of the ex-militant and his propensity to violence, the party will hold him personally responsible if anything untoward happens to Mohammed.
The letter reads: “The attention of our party has been drawn to comments made by the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mr. Mujahid Dokubo-Asari that included a threat of violence against our National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
“The threat, contained in an interview granted to the online newspaper Premium Times by Mr. Asari Dokubo on Friday, Oct. 17th 2014, follows a press statement which was issued on behalf of the party by Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Oct. 8th 2014, asking the Federal Government to explain the reported presence of Mr. Asari Dokubo on the plane that transported US$9.3 million cash to South Africa.
“In the interview, Mr. Asari Dokubo said while he would adopt a ‘civilised response to Mr. Mohammed by first suing the APC spokesperson for his remarks’, he (Asari Dokubo) warned that should the courts fail to deliver justice, ‘he will resort to self-help by using his hands and any other means to deal with Mr. Mohammed’.
“We find this threat totally abhorring, dangerous, unacceptable and uncivilized, and therefore wish to request that you call Mr. Asari Dokubo to order and invite him to explain what he means by his threat to resort to self-help. We have attached a copy of the said interview to this petition.
“We take the unwarranted threat very seriously, in view of the antecedents of Mr. Asari Dokubo and his propensity to violence, and will definitely hold him personally responsible if anything untoward happens to our National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
“Since ours is a country that operates under the rule of law rather than the laws of the jungle, we believe anyone who is aggrieved over any issue should resort to the courts to seek redress.
“Where such aggrieved persons decide to take our laws into their own hands, as Mr. Asari Dokubo has threatened, it is an invitation to anarchy”, the statement said.
The party also copied the Senate President, David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim and the Attorney General of the Federation, Adoke Mohammed (SAN), in the letter.
It is rather unfortunate that a single individual could be prefered above the laws ofour land. For, this is what Asari’s link with the alrns purchase bid in Soith Africa under whatever pretence suggests. We had earlier been briefed that Boko Haram has many faces. The presidency’s confirmation then that B/H members infitrate everywhere including among its cabinet lives no doubt that any Nigerian could come under the suspision of being one not witstanding the question of status. It is therefore justifiable to demand an explanation from the president as to the mission of a former war lord as Asari Dokubo on a war related journey as to purchase alrms instead of well tested persons like Henry Nwosu, that is, if it is a worthwhile travel at all ( as done by Lai Mohammed just could as well anyelse). Complexities such as which government officials appear to be bhind our national woes as in the case of Ebola brought to Nigeria by the careless speach by the former minister of information, Maku, are enough good grounds why the Americans will not wantto help us. Asari Dokubo’s threat should not distract our query minds to know why Asari had to go among the secret alrm dealers. The story of the impounded armimation at the Kano airport is still in mind if that was denied how are we to this subsequent ones in line with who should be seen as Boko Haram actor. Buhari or those calling him so in order to hang him?