… as ex-agitators apologise to NNPC boss for character defamation
ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
An Ijaw socio-ethnic group, the Ijaw Frontline Crusaders (IFC), has cautioned some selfish ex-agitators and stakeholders in the Niger Delta region to henceforth desist from alleged witch-hunt and blackmail of people of Ijaw ethnic stock in high positions in the country.
The warning came against the backdrop of an apology and withdrawal of petitions by an ex-militant group, the Niger Delta Liberation Movement (NDLM), against Mr Adokiye Tombomieye, Group Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The NLDM recently defamed Adokiye, an Ijaw man from Rivers State, by launching a campaign of calumny against him.
It, however, retracted the allegations later, claiming that they were misinformed and misled by some undisclosed dubious Ijaw leaders.
The ex-agitators in a letter sent to NNPC GED, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, apologised to him for defaming his character.
The letter signed by NLDM leader, Oghenekaro Egor; Isaac Igbawo, member, and German Goodnews, member, indicated that they had discovered that some dubious persons gave them a false impression of Adokiye and his activities at the NNPC.
To that end, the NLDM averred that it had withdrawn any form of publications in the media, petitions to the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) that had been made against Adokiye and also sought his forgiveness.
Reacting to the apology to Adokiye, spokesman for IFC, Binaebi Ekisa, however, commended the leadership of the NDLM for withdrawing their selfish and frivolous petitions against Adokiye.
Ekisa noted that the show of remorse by NLDM was a step in the right direction but cautioned that such sentimental and selfish procedure in expressing opinions must be avoided in the Niger Delta as it was capable of depleting its progress and giving room for foreigners to mock the people of the region.
Ekisa lauded Adokiye for not taking up the issue of character defamation against a baseless and frivolous petition against him by Oghenekaro and his cohorts.
He stated: “Going forward, the IFC hereby sends a strong note of warning to others from the Niger Delta to desist from witchhunt of our people in high positions just for selfish gains.
“The warning is borne out of the fact that some other highly placed personalities will not take such defamation of character likely and that would give room for litigation to enable the law to take its course.
“It is high time the Niger Delta youths made a conscious effort to think outside the box and consistently add value and virtues to stay relevant in the society. We also urge them to shun the temptation to become elements of destruction to the development of the region through their selfish involvements in character assassination and other criminal acts.
“I wish to further commend the NNPC leadership for their concerted efforts in making the Niger Delta a progressive hub by siting the train 7 project in Bonny, Rivers State and many other projects in the region.”