By our Reporter
Ex-agitators, leaders and stakeholders from the six states of the Niger Delta region, under the auspices of Niger Delta Advocate for Peace And Good Governance Group, NDAPGGG, have showered encomiums on leader of the defunct Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo on his 60th birthday, describing him as one of the region’s freedom fighter that stood against injustice and oppression.
The National leadership of the NDAPGGG, during a meeting held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, and convened by ex-militant leader, Comrade Fiawei Pathfinder, also known as ‘General Osama;’ secretary, Comrade Sir Dr AK Peters and National Woman leader, Comrade Bridget Eyimosaon, described Alhaji Mujahid Abubakar Dokubo Asari as “the Opu Alabor Da Amakiri Tubor, the Inabio Buari II, the Paramount Head of Edi, Group of Houses in Kalabari Kingdom and an acceptable face of the Niger Delta struggle in quest of Resource Control and emancipation of the Niger Delta people.”
The national leader of the group, Comrade Fiawei Pathfinder, while addressing newsmen after the meeting, said Alhaji Dokubo Asari is “a symbol of a universal freedom fighter that could be described to the likes of Nelson Madiba Mandela of South Africa, the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew and many more global freedom fighters who stood firm, fearlessly in the liberation of nations and their people.
“Mujahid Dokubo Asari, the Ediabali of Kalabari kingdom is known to be a fearless, dogged, outspoken, courageous, and defender of the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality and by extension the Niger Delta region, a patriot and force to reckon with in the Nigerian state as a whole. Therefore we deemed it necessary to honour our own leader who is always at the forefront in agitating for the right and it’s privileges of the Niger Delta people.”
He said: “There is no doubt about this that this day is special and a unique celebration day to give full and complete honour to a selfless vocal and foresighted leader and a freedom fighter with a global repute, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakar Dokubo Asari, the Ediabali of Kalabari kingdom, the paramount head of the Ediabali ruling house as he clocks a triumphant diamond 60.
“Indeed, it is a day that every son and daughter of the Ijaw Nation, and Niger Deltans in general should be elated to celebrate, and so we deemed it fit to celebrate our own renowned son of the Niger Delta region, a relentless and passionate Niger Delta Freedom Fighter, a living legend of our time, the hero and face of the emancipation struggle in liberating the people of the Niger Delta region.
“This is a man with the lion heart who has remained a fearless voice and an outspoken and courageous fighter that says it as it is, and he had demonstrated that he is the defender of his people, who also is seen as the Emeritus President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, and his a man that make things happen with uncommon doggedness, and he is a patriotic Nigerian elder statesman who will always advocate for unity and peaceful coexistence of the Nigerian state.
“We see him as a beacon of hope for liberation of the Niger Delta people in the agitation of resource control and icon of true federalism even at 60 years, and he has never lost the vision and strong believe in the struggle for the holistic emancipation of the entire Niger Delta region who still commits himself to the emancipation of the Niger Delta region.
“He is a strong voice who have pressed and sustained the fight for fairness equal rights, equity and justice to ensure the issue of resource control and fiscal federalism is actualized in the interest of the people of the region and Nigeria as well.”
However, while acknowledging the dogged, rugged and fearless spirit of Asari Dokubo as a freedom fighter of international repute and defender of the Niger Delta people, Pathfinder described him as the living legend, asserted that “the Ediabali of Kalabari kingdom stood with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his presidential project but was not appreciated and refused to be acknowledged.
“We and Nigerians know how our leader and patriotic son of the Niger Delta region stood by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential project and stick his neck without any compromise from the onset of the campaign to the election victory.
“He stood firm in defense of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’ victory both at the Presidential Election Tribunal even to the Supreme Court for the final declaration of Tinubu’s victory, and even though the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu refuses to acknowledge all his tireless efforts and sacrifices with financial commitments and dedication in making sure that Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the last presidential election.
“We the leadership of Niger Delta Advocate for Peace And Good Governance Group, who are the foot soldiers will continue to acknowledge this known fact and such cannot overemphasize this strong belief in the Tinubu project even though, that same Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration refuses to acknowledge all his tireless sacrifices, efforts and commitments contributed to the overall victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency.
“Rather the administration deem it necessary to reward some group of persons with their allies who were standing at the corner of the fence when their voice and personal contributions were most needed but they where nowhere to be find, but today they are the sole beneficiaries and got all the rewards from that same president Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, and no matter what he, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari, has not derailed to ensure equity, justice and fairness to his people in the region”, he added.
