By Kolawole Ojebisi
Former Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo, has vowed to form alliance with youths from the Northern region in 2027 in a strategic move to work against President Bola Tinubu’s aspirations.
Dokubo revealed that his change of allegiance became following his loss of trust and confidence in President Tinubu whom he said, he supported in 2023.
Dokubo made these known in a viral video on social media where he stressed that he emptied his accounts to canvass for votes and rally support for Tinubu’s presidential ambition in 2023
Dokubu, however, expressed regrets and disappointment over what he described as the treatment Tinubu’s government has meted out to him and his people.
He claimed that he put his name on the line by asking Nigerians to hold him accountable if Tinubu failed as president.
He said: “I apologise to our fathers because they were not wrong in forming an alliance with the North, and as young men, we will now start that same alliance.
“From today, I will work and form an alliance with the North. President Tinubu betrayed me after I spent all my money and emptied my bank account campaigning for him. The Tinubu I know now isn’t the Tinubu I used to know. We will take this message across that only the Northerners can work with the Ijaw people.
“We can’t work…We risked our lives by voting and doing everything, and this is what we get?”
Dokubo had, in the buildup to the 2023 elections claimed that his support for Tinubu was purely based on his long-standing relationship with him adding that there was no strings attached as he was not after a federal appointment.
He said, “I am not a regular politician; I am just a friend of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am not looking for an appointment, but those seeking an appointment made sacrifices and are looking up to me to ensure that their sacrifices are not in vain.”
It is not clear why Dokubo is suddenly having a change of mind. But many political observers believe it might not be unconnected with the raging feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers state and Nyesom Wike, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister and immediate past Governor of Rivers State. To Dokubo, Fubara, an Ijaw is being unjustly harassed politically and threatened legally by Wike over the battle for control of the soul of Rivers State politics.
Also, some tend to hint that the scrapping of the Ministry big Niger Delta by President Tinubu might also not have gone down well with the ex-militant leader.
Recall that Dokubo had been a strong and vocal supporter of Tinubu. For instance, while speaking when he was visited by an ex-presidential aspirant, Tein Jack-Rich, the ex- militant leader said his friendship with Tinubu dated back to the early 90s and he has complete faith in the President’s capacity, leadership qualities and his passion for equity and justice.
“I will not do anything that will cause the President pain, and so those around me can be rest assured (sic) that I am indeed a great supporter of the President,’’ he had said.
