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Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Asari Dokubo has stressed the Niger Delta people may not bother to trample on Western interests if their aspirations and business posturing runs contrary to those of the oppressed people of the region.
Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Asari Dokubo has stressed the Niger Delta people may not bother to trample on Western interests if their aspirations and business posturing runs contrary to those of the oppressed people of the region.
Asari who spoke to this publication in Port Harcourt Friday said what was paramount to the people of the Niger Delta is the resolve to take over control of their God given resources dominated by those he described as the "bandits in Abuja".
Asked if he was prepared to hurt Western interests in order to pursue his agenda Asari remarked, "If Western interests are not in consonance with the interests of our people, we would hurt their interests."
"If it in consonance with the interests of our people, if it is consistent with our interests, then we will support their interests", the accomplished warlord stated.
Asari explained that the long term interests of the Ijaws of the Niger Delta and their South-South neighbours were very paramount.
As he put it, " Our interest is paramount to us. We would not consider any other person's interest in preference to our own interest.
Asked if he is regrouping and re-arming as is being speculated, Asari noted he had handed in weapons.
He however said the system has its spies and operatives who have the mandate to confirm if he is re-arming or not but he added he and his associates had a right to associate and assemble under the law.
Asari waved aside allegations credited to the president which suggest he operates an illegal refinery, saying that if illegal refineries allegedly own by people like him could work when those owned by the country were out of action, then there was evidence his associates and himself have access to technology.
He restated the Ijaws are poised to leave what he described as the oppressive Nigerian state.