There’ll be no war if Jonathan Loses or not — ex-Niger Delta militants

A group of former Niger Delta militants under the aegis of Niger Delta Coalition and Delta Coalition for Change, NDCDCC, on Monday said that the region will not go to war in the unlikely event that President Goodluck Jonathan loses the March 28 election.

The members of the group said there would be no war in the oil-rich region if Jonathan, who is the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, loses.

“We are assuring Nigerians that there will be no breach of peace in the Niger-Delta on or before the general election of the 28th March and 11th of April, as we look forward to a free and fair election,” the statement signed by Young Piero and Peter Asukuwa, said.

“The judiciary has clearly stated that the armed forces have no role in the general election and as such any attempt for military deployment to voting centres is sabotage to our judiciary,

“We are standing on the part of justice for now that no one has the monopoly to carry out such threat against national security if the government of the day has the peace and sustainability of this great nation at heart,

“We are one Nigeria. Let no one be troubled. Pray for peace and free/fair election. Whoever emerges as the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be given the necessary support from the North, South, West and East of this great nation.”

The groups said Nigeria needs a corrupt-free government but that experience has shown that there is no easy way out of corruption anywhere in the world.

They said, “Many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.”

Urging Nigeria to endeavour to allow democracy work in Nigeria, the group stressed that “One who does not vote has no right to complain. Democracy is built through open societies that share information. When there is information there is enlightenment, when there is debate, there are solutions, when there is no sharing of power, no rule of law, no accountability.”

Nigerians would hope that the All Progressives Congress, APC, their presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and their supporters emulate the example of this group rather than threatening violence at every turn.