The Arewa Consultative Forum, a northern interest group, has said it found nothing wrong with the call for the arrest of few Niger-Delta militants by Lieutenant Theophilus Danjuma, retd. Danjuma’s comment, two weeks ago, was inspired by a threat by the militant irredentists to shut down the country should their kinsman, President Goodluck Jonathan, loses the presidential election.
Muhammadu Ibrahim, ACF national publicity secretary, on Monday, in Kaduna, deplored the threat by the militant to Danjuma’s business interest in the oil-rich Niger Delta region due to his comment.
The statement reads in part.
“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. ACF will therefore not accept any threat to his person or business assets or to any law-abiding citizen 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.
“ACF therefore views such threats and intimidation by the ex-militants as an affront not only to Gen. Danjuma 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.
“ACF hereby calls upon 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.”
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