FOLLOWING Thursday’s release of Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo by an Abuja High Court, militants in the Niger Delta have announced a complete ceasation of hostilities in the area.
In an online statement yesterday signed by one Cynthia Whyte, the militants who spoke under the aegis of Joint Revolutionary Council said they would allign themselves with the new strategy that would be evolved by Asari on how they should go about the struggle for the region .
“We also wish to announce a complete cessation of hostilities against the Nigerian state and her perceived collaborators. We will work in line with the emerging and evolving process.”
Continuing, the online statement urged President Umaru Yar ‘Adua to be wary of leaders in the region they tagged betrayers and spoilers of the Niger Delta cause just as they hailed the media and other groups for standing doggedly behind the region in her crusade against injustice.
“On behalf of the Joint Revolutionary Council and its alliance members, we wish to commend all men of goodwill who stood the course and faced the tide in the two years of the travails and persecutions that was visited on our patriotic and esteemed leader, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari.”
“We commend the resilience and dogged determination of key Ijaw elders whose timely support, encouragement and progressive advice helped paved the way for this release. ”
“We cannot fail to commend the exceptional courage and leadership shown by the Governor of the Bantustans of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva-Sam. One of the biggest challenges in the achievement of a developed Niger Delta has been the absence of governors and political leaders who have the ability to move our people forward. If he continues in this path of honour, Chief Sylva-Sam may just be the best thing to happen to the Niger Delta in a very long time.”
“He should therefore stay his course. We will work closely with leaders who show true commitment to improving the quality of lives of their people. We will listen to leaders who understand the anguish of our people and feel the intenseness of the pain inflicted on our consciousness by the oppressive and occupation forces of the dubious Nigerian state.”
“We will not fail to commend in very strong terms, the exceptional and tremendous support of the media of the Nigerian state as well as international media groups who stood by us to spread the gospel of the new Ijaw and Niger Delta consciousness.”