Ex-militants warn military

chika ebuzor

December 11, 2015 5:40 AM

The ex-militant commander also frowned at the way voters were allegedly harassed and treated during the just concluded election in Bayelsa.

A group known as the Forum of Spokesmen of ex-Niger Delta militants, have resolved to oppose any attempt by the military to interfere in the upcoming supplementary election in Bayelsa state.

According to Vanguard Newspapers, the Coordinator of the group, Woyengi-momoemi Donald said: “After taking a critical look at the outcome of the last Saturday’s conduct of the governorship election in Bayelsa State, giving due assessment to the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the various security agencies, we are bound to inform Nigerians, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari that we will vehemently resist, any attempt to further Militarise Bayelsa State, under the guise of providing security during the rescheduled election in Southern Ijaw Local government and few other polling units across the State.”

Donald also said “May we remind President Buhari and his party, that save for the maturity and free will of our son, President Goodluck Jonathan, the same Military would have been used to truncate his party’s chances of being in government at the centre, as they are today.”

Citing the ruling of Justice Aikawa of the Federal High Court, that disallowed the use of military during elections without an act of the National Assembly, the militants said “By action of the Military on Saturday, it is considered that a crime has been committed against the people of Bayelsa state and therefore we are prepared to resist further attempt at repeating this, particularly during the re-run election for Southern Ijaw Local government.

“We have therefore resolved to put our teeming members on the notice to mobilize in readiness for the defense of the right of our people and against the invasion of Ijaw land by whosoever under the desperation of hijacking power in Bayelsa State.”

Elections in the Southern Ijaw Local Government of Bayelsa were declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

chika ebuzor