IT was a Federal High Court in Abuja, yet it looked like a theatre of war as the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo and his members took it over, chanting Ijaw war songs to re-affirm their readiness to lay down their lives for the freedom of the “Ijaw nation.”
Asari-Dokubo stated that the Ijaw nation had the arsenal to wage war against President Olusegun Obasanjo and bring him to book for alleged crimes against humanity.
Like a choir master, Asari-Dokubo set the tone as he raised one song after another, with his members taking the cue and joining in.
The stage was set with the entry of the militant leader, who was escorted into the court of Justice Babs Kuewumi by security operatives at exactly 9.20 a.m. to resume his trial for alleged treasonable offences.
Dressed in black jeans trousers and a black T-shirt with the picture of Major Isaac Adaka Borro on it, Asari-Dokubo embraced some of his kinsmen and supporters and shook hands with others before taking his seat.
Having been cut off from his people, most of them turned themselves into emergency photographers, wanting to take something of him (his picture) back home. They had no cameras, so they improvised with their camera phones.
Ijaw faithful were quick to explain that the songs basically were re-affirming their unalloyed and unbending desire for self-determination.
“One of the songs we sang simply said we will fight for freedom of our people. We will die for our people to be free. Nobody can stop us,” a member of the NDPVF explained.
Apparently fired up by the war songs, Asari-Dokubo sent a stern warning to President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he said would someday be tried for alleged crimes against humanity.
In his address, Asari-Dokubo said Obasanjo was of the erroneous view that incarcerating him would break his spirit, make him beg for freedom and abandon the Ijaw cause.
“0basanjo has eaten more than he can chew. He thinks he can break my spirit and make me beg by putting me in prison. It is a lie. I can never beg.”
He added: “I am ready to pay the ultimate price for my people to be free. The struggle is my life. We must be free! The Ijaw people must be free! The Ijaw nation must be free!”
The full address of Asari-Dokubo reads:
“I can see Obasanjo falling. He is falling. He is falling. Some people thought we were lying. Today, it is clear that we are now having a man… out to devour everybody.
“I promise him that the Ijaws will follow him every inch, every step of the way. I will be alive to see Obasanjo in chains and tried for crimes against humanity. The masses and the down-trodden will then have freedom.
“Freedom is not negotiable. The charlatans he gathered together as leaders of our people are no leaders. They won’t be able to change the course of revolution.
“He has not come to terms with the reality of the Niger Delta, he will surely be brought down. He will be tried over the crimes he committed against Odi and Odioma. There will be no more Odi, no more Odioma.
“Let me say clearly that for every Ijaw person he kills, hundreds of his people will be killed in his stead. We are ready to meet him arms for arms, arsenal for arsenal. If all these do not work, we will use everything, including biological weapons.
“I am not an Owu captive. My father was a king, who fought their battle for them. I challenge Obasanjo to battle; the battle line has already been drawn.
“Obasanjo has eaten more than he can chew, he thinks he can break my spirit and make me beg him. It is a lie, I can never beg. The struggle is my life. It is Allah that gives life and it is Allah that takes it. It is Allah that establishes sovereignty and it is Allah that brings it down. Obasanjo shall be brought down Insha Allah.
“Somebody, who is fighting corruption, is giving arms out to counter revolution. We are not afraid to pay the ultimate price.
“When a lion roars, the hunter tames him. Obasanjo is the lion that has roared. I am the hunter and I will tame him”.
No sooner had he finished than the trial Judge, Justice Babs Kuewum entered the court room at about 9.55am for the proceedings of the day.
The court clerk announced the treason case brought by government against the militant leader.
The Federal Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Malam Saliu Aliyu announced appearance for government, while Festus Keyamo announced appearance for Asari-Dokubo. They were both leading other juniors.
Keyamo drew the attention of the court to an application before the court, seeking a stay of further proceedings pending the hearing and determination of Asari-Dokubo’s appeal, challenging the refusal of the judge to disqualify himself on the grounds of an alleged bias.
The appeal lodged at the Court of Appeal (Abuja Division) is scheduled for hearing on May 9 this year.
The application for stay, being just filed this morning, was not ripe for hearing, hence Justice Kuewumi adjourned arguments on it to May 5, this year.