President Tinubu Reportedly Bars Niger Delta Ex-agitators Asari-Dokubo from Aso Rock

Niger Delta militant leaders from visiting him in the presidential villa in Abuja.

Leadership reports that the decision was taken in the aftermath of the visit to President Tinubu by the leader of the defunct Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, (NDPVF), Mujarhedeen Asari-Dokubo, on June 16, 2023.

According to the report, President Tinubu, in ordering the action, was disturbed by public utterances and actions of Asari-Dokubo in the aftermath of his visit to him days after he assumed the mantle of leadership of the country. President Tinubu is reported to have been bothered that all “verbal vituperations and militant activities” of Asari-Dokubo in the Niger Delta were subsequently linked to him after the June audience with Dokubo.

Recall that after his visit to President Tinubu, Asari in a chat with the State House reporters, took on the Armed Forces, accusing its personnel of being neck-deep in economic sabotage, especially crude oil theft and vandalism of oil equipment in the region. The allegation, it was revealed, ‘embarrassed and shocked’ Tinubu, especially because he made the revelation, moments after departing his office.

The report added that sources within the presidency said that Dokubo’s outbursts against the military within the vicinity of the villa gave the inkling that the president shared the same views with the notable ex-militant commander.

“Asar Dokubo’s unacceptable conduct in the eyes of the presidency moved beyond tolerable level when he took on the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, threatening to deal with the chief executive of the oil-rich state. The presidency was said to be irked that his association with the president continued to give a wrong signal to the public that he enjoyed the support and backing of the nation’s number one citizen. Sources in the presidency say the president has ordered that he would no longer play host to the ex-militant commanders and militias in the villa apparently to forestall the negative impression and unenviable signal such association was likely to create in the psyche of the public.”