*Says he has no response for fame seeking Nigerians

Former Niger Delta militant and ex-leader of the defunct Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Asari Dokubo, has refuted allegations of harassment and unlawful possession of assault rifles levelled against him by Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA).

Dokubo who spoke to journalists from Saudi Arabia through a telephone conversation, was also accused of threatening to coordinate nationwide protest, stated that he would be careful not to allow himself to be used for cheap publicity.

He added that many organizations and groups believe that confrontation with people considered to be controversial figures will give them big names.

Vowing not to yield to their tactics, Dokubo wondered why Nigerians will expect him to join issues with people who threaten a government that is on a clear rescue mission.

He declared that “what these people are embarking upon is treason”, he said. He explained that as long as treason remained the betrayal of one’s country, then those sending strong threats to Nigerian government should be charged for treason.

These “unpatriotic Nigerians” according to him, are not seeking dialogue with the government but “threatening a popularly elected federal government, not even state or local government.”

Only recently, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Supporters Centre declared that claims of Dokubo’s hatred for Igbos were mischievous and unfounded. The group under the coordination of Ambassador Ibrahim Batati also condemned the calls for his arrest, wondering why those he referred to as fame seeking Nigerians do not know where to go to when they are aggrieved.