A coalition of ex-militants in the Niger Delta under the aegis of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI) has threatened hell, should President Goodluck Jonathan be stopped in 2015.
In a statement in Port Harcourt signed by LPCDI National President and ex-militant leader, Pastor Reuben Wilson and Henry Binidodogha, Granville Ideye and Ezekiel Akpasibewei on behalf of others, they expressed anger with the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi and the other break-away members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over their action at the last mini convention of the party.
They described and the others as dissident who were targeted at preventing President Jonathan from being re-elected in 2015, even as they vowed to stop those against the second term bid of the President
The statement read in part: “As former freedom fighters in the Niger Delta, we are aware that oil production figures have risen appreciably because we accepted the amnesty agenda of the administration in which Mr. President was a key player in his capacity as vice president at that time, and now as president.
“Because oil revenues have appreciated, all sections of the country have got some good revenue for their states. Unfortunately, these funds are being used for deadly and selfish political fights that are not in the best interest of the country,” it said
The former militants accused members of the new PDP of working against the interest of the Nigerian masses, saying: “The gladiators are all out to smear the character and person of Mr. President and ensure that he does not enjoy a re-election in 2015 so that they can take charge and continue to enslave us as was the case for decades.
“We will not fold our arms and watch a section of the country which believes that it is their birthright to rule Nigeria to chase Mr. President out of office. If their argument is that he is not performing, it would have been understood.
“The fight, as it is now, is more about political and selfish interests, rather than that of public good. Otherwise, how do we explain the decision of the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi to be more involved in the politics of nurturing a break-away faction of the PDP, just to spite Mr. President and realise his political ambition of becoming a vice president, instead of concentrating on development projects in his state where there are no roads, where he has not been able to fulfil his promises to deliver on a near power supply to the state, where the mono rail project has been used as a conduit pipe, where the Greater Port Harcourt project has suffered a still birth, where projects started years back have since been abandoned.
“We will do everything legally possible to ensure that Mr President wins a re-election in 2015, except he refuses to contest. The north has held on to power for most of Nigeria’s existence as an independent nation. It amounts to greed show of bravado to think of taking over power again