Former Militant Leader Pledges Support To Buhari 

Aware of the no nonsense nature of Gen Mohammadu, the president elect, some former militant leaders are beginning to pledge their loyalty to the retired general.

Former leader of the defunct Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV), Chief Ateke Tom

According to Leadership, the latest Niger Delta ex war lord to pledge loyalty to Buhari is Chief Ateke Tom, leader of the defunct Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV).

Ateke Tom has said former militant leaders in the region are ready to cooperate and work with the Buhari so as to move the region forward.

Speaking to newsmen at Okochiri community in Okrika local government area of Rivers State, Ateke said he and other leaders of the Niger Delta struggle were ready discuss on how to secure the peace in the Niger Delta region.

He said: “I am here to congratulate Buhari for his victory. We will want good leadership; we thank God that Buhari is now our President and we pray God Almighty to give him wisdom to rule our country. Since Buhari is now our President, we want him to meet with the core leaders of the Niger Delta struggle; I mean the real leaders in the struggle.

“He should call the real leaders and talk to them. Let us discuss on our needs. He should also not forget the Amnesty Programme, because we know what we fought for and that was why they gave us Amnesty. We did not get the Amnesty Programme from the backyard. So, let him keep to the programme. Let the Amnesty Programme function well and we will like it. We are ready to work with Buhari.”

The ex-militant leader said he will not join other former militant leaders who were considering returning to the creeks to blow up pipelines due to the defeat of President Jonathan in the presidential election.

He said: “Some people are saying they want to go back to the creek, or they want to blow up pipelines; no, I, Ateke Tom will not be part of that, we don’t need all those things and nobody will go back to the creeks. I have a say in the Niger Delta and I am one of the top fighters; so nobody will go back to the creeks. I advice the youths not to follow anybody back to the creeks.

“We should not say because there is change of government and Buhari is now the President, and somebody wants to go back to the creeks; what are you going there to do? So, let nobody follow anybody to the creeks. What we want is that let Buhari meet us and treat us well.

“We cannot say because Jonathan, our brother is the President and therefore under his administration, every programme and policies that were mapped out for the Niger Delta by Yar’adua before his death, have all been implemented by the Jonathan government; no. There are some of the programmes and policies that have not been implemented, and we expect Buhari to implement them when he finally takes over as President.”

Ateke Tom is not the only militant leader who is calling for calm in the Niger Delta region. Former commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, high Chief Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, has also called for calm following the emergence of Gen. Muhammudu Buhari as president-elect of the federation.