The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has described ex-Niger Delta warlord, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo as a “joker” who is only seeking the Federal Government’s attention.
The Minister said this in Lagos on Monday while reacting to Asari-Dokubo’s declaration of a Biafra Customary Government (BCG) in a Sunday statement.
This came as the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) also faulted the declaration of the de facto government by the ex-warlord, who named himself as its head.
Mohammed stated that the Federal Government would not allow itself to get distracted by the “theatre of the absurd by a joker seeking attention’’.
“I am sure you have heard of the theatre of the absurd, that is the best way I can describe it.
“If Asari Dokubo wants to form and run a fathom government, I think he is free to do so.
“This administration will not be distracted because we still have a lot to do.
“We are not ready to give any attention or time to a joker like Dokubo who is just looking for attention.
“We will just take it as one of these entertainment things.
“The beauty about Nigeria is that it is never a dull country, you must have one thing or the other to entertain you,’’ the minister said.
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Meanwhile, PANDEF said that though the Federal Government was responsible for creating conditions that fuelled Asari-Dokubo’s declaration, secession was not the answer to the nation’s problems.
Spokesman for PANDEF, Mr Ken Robinson told The Punch, “We are not aware of the ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region that have communicated to us where they belong. We have seen some maps of ethnic nationalities or so-called republics, where some parts of the Niger Delta are crafted into Oduduwa Republic.
“We have also seen maps that have been made concerning Biafra Republic, where some other parts of Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Delta states have also been crafted into the so-called Biafra Republic.
“But the Pan Niger Delta Forum is not a secessionist organisation. We believe in one Nigeria, but our concern is the way and manner the country is being governed. So, we are asking for the restructuring of the country for it to attain true federalism.”