Niger Delta Militants Ban Atiku From Region

Former Niger Delta militants have demanded that the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, tender an apology to President Goodluck Jonathan for leading others to form a breakaway from the party or be ready to face the consequences of his action.

The group further declared Abubakar a persona non grata in the region, adding that it had his list of business interests in the region and would not stand still while the same man who had profited from the resources of the region takes others along to sabotage one of its own.

The leaders, drawn from all the states of the region, converged on Yenagoa on Saturday under the aegis of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative to review political developments in the country.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt after the meeting, president of the group, General Reuben Wilson, said the former vice president had declared himself an enemy of the Niger Delta the day he led other members of the PDP to organise what he called a political coup against Jonathan.

Wilson said: "It is unfortunate that Atiku who has benefitted so much from the Niger Delta oil is leading dissidents in a political coup against the first south southerner to ever occupy the seat of president of Nigeria.
"We are aware of his vast business interests in the Niger Delta and we are warning him in his own interest to stay off the region. He cannot be enjoying our oil money and at the same time use the same money to fight against the owners of the oil," the group said.