Ex-Niger Delta militant leader, High Chief Ateke Tom, has told the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) that his agitation was devoid of criminality and heartlessness.
Tom, who spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, recalled that he never got involved in criminal activities during his peiod of agitation.
He said his struggle led to the development of the Niger Delta.
Cautioning the NDA to shun violence and avoid dragging him into the renewed crisis in the region, Tom said he was surprised that the new militant group attempted to tarnish his reputation by dropping his name in its activities.
The NDA, in a recent statement, accused Tom of supporting the Federal Government, adding that his struggle and that of his close associates was based on criminality.
But Tom, who is the leader of Niger Delta Vigilante Force (NDVF), said his agitation increased political participation in the area, adding that former President Goodluck Jonathan was a beneficiary of his agitation.
The former militant leader urged NDA to stop the destruction of oil facilities.
The NDVF leader said NDA’s activities were causing untold hardship among the region’s residents.
He said his struggle was an agitation for true federalism.
Tom added that it paved the way for the emergence of more educated youths from the region through the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Chief Atake did your struggles achieve the Federalism you claimed you were after? You are now a federal agent having received your wages from the oppressor regime of your PAY MASTERS. Any well meaning NIGER DELTA-INS will support this present struggles which is a true reflection and aspirations of all lovers of EQUITY, JUSTICE, FAIR-PLAY, and TRUE FEDERALISM unlike your parochial and selfish ambition which led a great number of youthful NIGER DELTA INS to their early graves. Can you sincerely tell us how many NIGER DELTA youths died under your watch with your so called struggles? Now after having received settlement from your pay masters, you become delusion-ed and abandoned the struggles and now preached cautions for YOUR selfish interest against the collective aspirations and yearnings of the people of NIGER DELTA. But your propaganda and your selfishness along with any other person(s) that share(s) sentiments will not stop this present struggle. This NDA youth and agitators are more focused than to be bought with mere contracts and settlements. If you do not support this struggle, the best you can do is to keep quiet and tell whosoever that wants to know your opinion on this present struggle that you are not included in their arrangement.
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