President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the Ijaw communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, to hand over perpetrators of the renewed bombing of oil installations, who may be hiding in their communities.
In a Sunday statement, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina told Vanguard that the communities should have no fear of being bombarded by security forces but should display patriotism by handing over the suspects.
He said: “Ijaw communities need not fear. What they can rather do is to hand over culprits hiding in their midst to the authorities. If they have identified those who blew up pipelines, and who are taking refuge in their communities, as good citizens, they should hand them over to law enforcement agents.
“Ijaws are Nigerians and good ones too. They should not allow a little leaven to destroy the whole lump. Rather, they should demonstrate patriotism by giving up evildoers. Such exists everywhere, and the onus is on good people not to shelter them.
“There are rules of engagement for every operation, and you can be sure that the Nigerian military will do what is right.”
Also, he dismissed the allegation that ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, was being targeted because of his alleged closeness to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The question of anybody being humiliated due to closeness to the former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan does not exist.
“This is not a vengeful government, and right on inauguration day, President Muhammadu Buhari had indicated that nobody needs fear that he would be out for vengeance. In his National Day broadcast on October 1 last year, the President also said people should not be afraid of his person, but fear the consequences of their actions. Therefore, nobody should fear humiliation on account of being close to anybody, as long as such person has clean hands,” he noted.
While speaking on whether the Presidency was looking into the allegation by Tompolo that some All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains were behind the bombings, Adesina said: “The Presidency should not be looking into allegations, when already security agencies have been empowered and positioned to do so. Anybody can claim anything, and the President has too much on his hands to allow such to constitute distraction.”
He added: “every Nigerian is the same, no matter his status or standing. If anybody says there is attempt to rope him into anything, the security agencies are there to establish the truth. When the President said he belonged to everybody, it meant that a level playing field would be created for all Nigerians.”
While responding to the call for political solution to the Tompolo face-off with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and his linkage to the bombing, he said: “The President will always be open to dialogue and finding of political solutions. That was why he said the government was ready to dialogue with Boko Haram, if the authentic leadership was determined. With respect to the Niger Delta, the same will subsist, but it would not translate to condoning sheer criminality.”
But Adesina pointed out that “if anybody has committed a crime, he must be ready to answer for it. Being open to political solution does not mean indulging criminality. Do not forget, people must always be ready for the consequences of their actions. It is only natural.”
He, however, disagreed with the insinuation in certain quarters that the EFCC had acquired a less than sterling reputation in handling suspects in its custody.
“EFCC allegedly having a bad image is your opinion. It does not mean you are correct,” he quipped.