Militants warn Soyinka, Falana to keep off Rivers

A militant group, Ijaw Freedom Fighters
(IFF), and a non-governmental
organisation, Ijaw People’s Development
Initiatives (IPDI), yesterday, warned
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka
and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana
(SAN), to steer clear of Port Harcourt on
Tuesday.
Several civil rights groups have scheduled
a rally for that day in the city to protest
against what they see as repeated
assaults on democracy in the state by
some people.
IFF and IPDI said they cannot guarantee
the safety of Soyinka, Falana and other
non Niger Deltans if they decide to
participate in the protest.
The two groups described the position of
the civil rights groups on the Rivers crisis
as vexatious.
IFF leader, Sese Gideon, said his group
“will not allow non-Niger Deltans to add
insult in a matter that can be settled
without bloodshed.”
Gideon, in a statement, entitled ‘We will
not take your coming to Rivers kindly’
said: “We are a group of youths along the
creeks, waterways and uplands of the
states in the Niger Delta region. We are
committed to the protection of rights,
privileges and freedom of the Niger Delta
people.
“We met and observed with interest the
continued frivolous and vexatious
statements credited to perceived egg
heads and civil activists like Wole Soyinka,
Femi Falana and many others on the
current crisis rocking the Rivers State
House of Assembly.
“While we blame the political class in
Rivers and Abuja for allowing such
comments due to their indiscretion and
show of shame, we will not allow non-
Niger Deltans to add insult in a matter
that can be settled without bloodshed.
We have listened to the name-calling and
tongue-lashing of the President and his
wife by the civil society but what we will
not take kindly to is the invasion being
planned by the non-Niger Deltans in
Rivers State.
“If the people of Rivers want to protest,
they should protest and demand for what
is right. But when it is shown, as clearly
displayed, that it is targeted to ridicule
and further discredit the South-South and
its quest for Presidency in 2015, we
cannot guarantee anyone’s safety again.
We are not interested in who impeached
whom but we will not fold our hands and
allow the sponsored onslaught in the
Niger Delta under the guise of civil
society gathering.
“We cannot guarantee the safety of
anyone interested and plotting to throw
Rivers or any other Niger Delta States into
turmoil”.
The IPDI leader, Austin Ozobo, called the
planned protest “ill timed” and
“ridiculous”.
He said his group has met with over 50
civil society groups in Warri, Delta State
and appealed to the people Rivers State
to shun the protest to avert further
bloodshed.
“We urge the police and other security
agencies in the state to endeavour to put
off the protest to avoid rival group clash
and stop planned further cause of
disaffection in the state.
“The crisis in Rivers State is a minor issue
that does not need external solution as
warring leaders could resolve their
differences if they mean well for Rivers.”
They warn external forces interference as
such will add fire to the situation at hand.
We are a body of civil activists in the six
states of the Niger Delta and were never
part of any planned protest in Rivers
State.”
Professor Soyinka and Mr. Falana had
condemned the Presidency, the First
Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, the state
Police Command and the five anti-
Amaechi members of the State Assembly
for their roles in fuelling the crisis in the
state.