Despite mounting pressure on the Federal Government to release the leader of the Niger Delta volunteer Force (NDVF), Asari Dokubo, the Governor of Delta state, James Ibori, said that justice must be allowed to take its natural course in the matter.
While emphasising that the judicial process must be transparent, the governor had while speaking briefly with State House Correspondents shortly after a meeting with President Olusegun Obasanjo, advised that issues in the Niger Delta should not be reduced to politics.
Ibori however, commended President Obasanjo for showing considerable patience and understanding onmatters that affect the Niger Delta and urged people in the area to allow the President handle the situation.
He stated that “the view of the Federal Government isthat it (Asari Dokubo’s case) is a judicial matter. If youstampede the Federal Government to deviate from that you would bethe same people that would shout foul”.
The Governor added that “the matter should be allowed to go through the due process in the judiciary. And I don’t think that is a big problem for his supporters. It’s just that they want it to be transparent, that is the issue”.
Ibori stressed that the President should be allowed to handle the issues of Niger Delta the way he has been doing as dialogue has proved a much better option than confrontation.
“The fundamental issues of the Niger Delta is not for politics, The issues are too weighty to be turned into a political matter. This government has started the process and I think you
should give it to Mr. President that even his critics would admit that he has displayed incredible patience and understanding; choosing dialogue instead of confrontation.
“From that we know that we can work with the Federal Government to tackle the issue of the Niger Delta”, said the governor.