Former militants from the oil-rich Niger Delta have declared that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock, the Nigerian seat of power, as the country counts down to the 2015 general elections.

Speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, under the banner of the Leadership, Peace, and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI), the ex-warlords insisted that Jonathan, the first person from the region to rule Nigeria, should be allowed to enjoy the two terms of four years each guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.

They warned against any attempt to prevent Jonathan from contesting in 2015, berating the just-formed but strong Alhaji Abubakar Baraje-chaired Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction for its alleged plot to sabotage Jonathan’s 2015 re-election plans.

The ex-militants bared their minds via a statement signed by LPCDI National President, Reuben Wilson, and state coordinators, Henry Binidodogha (Edo), Granville Ideye (Rivers), and Ezekiel Akpasibewei (Delta).

According to them, “As former freedom fighters in the Niger Delta, we are aware that oil production figures have risen appreciably because we accepted the amnesty agenda of the administration in which Mr. President was a key player in his capacity as vice-president at that time, and now as president.

“Because oil revenues have appreciated, all sections of the country have got some good revenue for their states. Unfortunately, these funds are being used for deadly and selfish political fights that are not in the best interest of the country.”

LPCDI described members of the Baraje-led PDP faction as “the gladiators (who) are all out to smear the character and person of Mr. President and ensure that he does not enjoy a re-election in 2015 so that they can take charge and continue to enslave us as was the case for decades.”

They then warned: “We will not fold our arms and watch a section of the country which believes that it is their birthright to rule Nigeria to chase Mr. President out of office. If their argument is that he is not performing, it would have been understood.

“The fight, as it is now, is more about political and selfish interests, rather than that of public good. Otherwise, how do we explain the decision of the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to be more involved in the politics of nurturing a break-away faction of the PDP, just to spite Mr. President and realise his political ambition of becoming a vice-president, instead of concentrating on development projects in his state where there are no roads, where he has not been able to fulfill his promises to deliver on a near power supply to the state, where the mono rail project has been used as a conduit pipe, where the Greater Port Harcourt project has suffered a still birth, where projects started years back have since been abandoned?

“We will do everything legally possible to ensure that Mr. President wins a re-election in 2015, except he refuses to contest. The north has held on to power for most of Nigeria’s existence as an independent nation. It amounts to greed show of bravado to think of taking over power again. If that is what Amaechi is fighting for, then he is an enemy of the south and we shall see him as such.

“We are the major victims of the negative effects of oil production in Nigeria and we cannot be robbed by anybody of the right to control the resources from our soil. Mr. President has, in just two years, proven that he can be trusted with power and that he can deliver on the dividends of democracy to Nigerians, who voted him into power.

“If only these power mongers can allow him to concentrate, Nigerians can be sure that a good man is in office and will give them the good things of life that has eluded them over the years.”

•Photo shows a group of ex-militants before the introduction of the amnesty programme that ended their struggle.

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