Less than four weeks to the February 16
presidential poll, the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, the umbrella
body of militant groups in the Niger Delta, has vowed to resist any
attempt to foist President Muhammadu Buhari on Nigeria, declaring that
the people of the region will not support Buhari’s re-election bid.
The militant groups warned that the 2019
general election would be bloody should anybody or security agents
attempt to rig the polls in the Niger Delta region.
Subsequently, militant groups in the
region have perfected plans to deploy their men in polling units across
the South-South geopolitical zones.
The coalition, CNDA , comprises Niger
Delta Avengers, Niger Delta Volunteers, Bakassi Strike Force and Niger
Delta Warriors. Others are Niger Delta Peoples Fighters, Bakassi Freedom
Fighters, Niger Delta Movement for Justice and Niger Delta Fighters
Network.
The Convener of the coalition group,
John Duku, said, “We have sensitised our members and affiliates on how
and who to vote, come February 16, 2019. I also want to assure you that
our men would be on the ground in all the polling units across the Niger
Delta region.
“If we notice any attempt to rig
election by anyone, including the security agents, it shall be bloody.
Let people vote (according to) their conscience and let the vote of the
people count.’’
The coalition further said, “We want to
assure you that President Buhari will not return in 2019 except INEC
compromises election results. Buhari has neglected the Niger Delta
people to the extent that we would have reacted in a very negative way
if not for our elders and leaders who continuously calmed us down.
“Our brother, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan,
accepted defeat and handed over to Buhari; I implore Buhari to toe the
path of honour and do same.”
Also, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, a group
headed by Chief Edwin Clarke, declared that it had begun an alliance
with other regions on the need to ensure that only presidential
candidates, who are in support of restructuring, would get the people’s
votes.
PANDEF Secretary General, Dr. Alfred Mulade, told Saturday PUNCH
in a telephone interview on Thursday that since President Buhari was
not in support of restructuring, he would not enjoy the votes of the
Niger Delta people.
Meanwhile, President Buhari and Atiku
had reportedly split the Niger Delta militants, causing them to speak in
discordant tunes over who the people of the region should support in
next month’s presidential election.