Dokubo Asari: Boko Haram, Goodluck Jonathan and Me

Ex-Niger Delta militant, Mujahid Asari Dokubo
By SaharaReporters, New York

Mujahid Asari Dokubo, the boisterous leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, has declared that he is not linked with the Boko Haram sect, even as he admitted meeting the sect’s deceased leader, Mohammed Yusuf, at the group’s mosque in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State.

Mr. Dokubo made the disclosures in a rambling letter he wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan detailing his conversion to Islam, his activism, and his feelings about the Presidency. SaharaReporters obtained a copy of the letter which is riddled with grammatical errors.
 
A source close to Mr. Dokubo told SaharaReporters that the former Niger  Delta militant  turned millionaire government apologist felt pressured to issue the statement in anticipation of a report in the US-based Wall Street Journal to the effect that the Jonathan administration had been paying millions of dollars to Mr. Dokubo and other erstwhile Niger Delta militants. Our source revealed that Mr. Dokubo’s lengthy letter was a tacit reaction to accusations some anonymous informants leveled against him to associates of President Jonathan. “Asari found out that some informants told aides of the president that he, Asari, has no following on ground in the Niger Delta and that he secretly sympathizes with Boko Haram.

In the statement, Mr. Dokubo said he met the slain  founder of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, in 1995/1996 during his quest for Islamic studies, for which he said he converted 23 years ago.
 
In the letter to President Jonathan, Mr. Dokubo accused some interests of conspiring to get him arrested in connection with Boko Haram’s violent activities. SaharaReporters gathered that some Ijaw youths wrote to Mr. Jonathan and security agencies alleging that Mr. Dokubo maintains connections with extremist Islamist organizations.
 
Mr. Dokubo wrote: “It is very clear that the sponsors of this group want to link me to the so-called Boko Haram sect, as their founder, financier and sponsor…to give a reason for the government of the Nigerian State to arrest me and throw me back into detention pending when full investigation of my supposed involvement with the group is completed. It is to generate bad blood between me and the aides of President Goodluck Jonathan who, according to the open letter action and inaction have been responsible for the upsurge in the activities of the group, that if they had allowed me access to the president, maybe, the security situation would have been mitigated.
 
“That the President has not allowed me access to him, I and others in the IYC, and other struggle platforms have different avenues of reaching those in authorities without having to see any particular individual in person, ours is to give sound advice to those who have benefited from our painful sacrifices and found themselves in government, but we would not do this in the public or on the pages of newspapers. To us, the protection of the little gains we have made is greater than our individual gains, interests and access to those in power.
 
“Even though I did not supported the so-called amnesty deal, I have seen that it has brought some benefits which were hitherto not available to the people of the Niger Delta. I therefore appeal to the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, to remove the criminal tag from this program, by making it a general program for all the combatants in the Niger Delta region who are willing to participate and derive benefit from the program. It will also lead to the end, in the continuous agitation by youth from the region that feels that they have been shortchanged by not being allowed to be involved in the program.
 
“Also, I want to state that in my course of travels and detention, I have met members of the Jama’atu ahlus Sunnah Lid da’wati wal Jihad, erroneously referred to as Boko Haram. I met the late Malam Mohammed Yusuf, at the Indimi Mosque in Maiduguri in 1995/1996 in my stay in Maiduguri in the course of my Islamic studies. I was also brought and detained at the State Security Service (SSS) headquarters underground detention center and put in a cell where Yusuf was detained in, a few days before my arrival.
 
“During my stay in the detention, I interacted with other members of the organization who were also detained in other cells. That is the only close contact I have had with members of the organization. My views and relationship with the northern elite and political establishment is well known. I have never pretended or be diplomatic in stating the obvious fact and it will be totally inconceivable to have recruited northern youths into the IYC and NDPVF when most northerners view these organizations as anti north and therefore fighting against the political, economic and social survival of the north. Finally, I will advice members of this body and their sponsors to please find something better to direct their energy and time into and leave me out of their satanic intrigues.”
 
Below is the full content of Mr. Dokubo’s letter to Mr. Jonathan dated August 19, 2012:
 
My attention has been drawn to a sponsored advertorial titled: “Open Letter to Mr. President, Security Situation in Nigeria Today,” by a group who styled itself The Council of Ijaw Youth for the Unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (COIYN).
 
Even though I have no relationship with this body, the sponsors of this body have chosen to make me their undeserved patron because the whole gamut of the open letter to the president was on my person, which to them was so important in resolving the political quagmire that presently confronts the government of President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan and the Nigerian state. Also contained in the publication are outright lies, misrepresentation of facts and thoughts manufactured from the figment of the imagination of the sponsors of the group. Under the subheading, The Current Situation-Our Position on the Genesis:
 
The group said: “The ascension of an Ijaw youth of Islamic faith as President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), a few years ago, may have attracted enormous goodwill and support from the global Islamic community, through vey prominent and high net worth individuals and some Islamic donor agencies and thus, some support from the northern Nigerian youths who joined the IYC in the struggle for self determination.”
 
I hereby make these clarifications:
 
I, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, am a Muslim, and have been a Muslim for the past 23 years…Insha Allah; I will live and die as a Muslim. I have no apology to render to any individual or group of individuals for being a Muslim…this is the only truth contained in the whole open letter.
 
That during my presidency at the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), that my position attracted goodwill from global Islamic community, prominent Muslim individuals, Islamic donor agencies and support from northern Nigerian youth who joined the IYC in the struggle for self determination…these are absolute lies, manufactured from the figment of the imagination of the sponsors of this group.
 
As President of IYC, I received no support whatsoever financially or otherwise from any Islamic group or individuals.
 
No northern youth joined the IYC as the constitution of the IYC provides that only Ijaw youths within certain age bracket can be members of IYC.I also want to state further that even as the leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), no Muslim from outside the Niger Delta region joined, participated or funded the activities of the NDPVF.
 
Contained further in the open letter, is that after the award of the Nigerian State amnesty to all manners of individuals they tagged militants involved in the struggle for the Niger Delta, these northern youth, I purportedly brought into Niger Delta struggle for self determination became stranded as they were left out of the amnesty deal…this is not only preposterous, but beats all rational thinking, as both the NDPVF and IYC rejected and did not partake in the amnesty.
 
The NDPVF went further to institute a suit against the Government of the Nigerian State in 2009 at the Federal High Court Abuja, asking the court to annul the amnesty awarded by the government as the President (Umaru Musa Yar’Adua) does not have such power under the 1999 Constitution and the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to award amnesty to individuals who have not been convicted on criminal charges in any court of competent jurisdiction. It will then be hypocritical on my part to reject the said amnesty and encourage others to accept same.
 
Furthermore, my support for the Presidency of Goodluck Jonathan is greater and larger than Goodluck Jonathan himself. Those who know where we are coming from, know the pains, deprivation and exclusion we as Ijaws and people of the Niger Delta, were subjected to…that since 1956 when Nigeria was awarded self governance by her British colonial overlords, the Ijaws and most of the people of the Niger Delta, have been excluded and barred from participating in the so-called self governance project, even though it is resources gotten from our wealth that is used to service and maintain the machinery of this project.
 
Therefore, it is very trivial for anybody or group to think that my support for Goodluck Jonathan has anything to do with my person. As I stated above, Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency is the collective fulfillment of the aspiration of the people of the Niger Delta to have a say in their affairs and how they are governed…my not gaining access to Goodluck Jonathan as president or otherwise, will not affect my support for him or his government, as stated above in the first place, he was not the reason for my support of the project to make him president.”

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wrong pple in d northern part

odiegwu.... the issue is more complicated than we tink, so, i think in d best interest of peace, let d country split

@Nagodi, Even The North Has 10 Zillion Barrels Proven Reserves

The major grouse the South has with the North is that Northerners ruled for 38 years out of 52 of Nig's life and the North blames the South for the backwardness in the South? What unites the South: generally, common religion, education, a liberal and progressive socio-econmic ideology! What uites the North: religious extremism, disease, and intolerance, illiteracy, a retrogressive socio-economic ideology. What unites the North and the South: the Oil. So, the South will be most pleased for the North to have its own oil, at least that will mean either of two things: The North might begin to contribute meaningfully to Nig's GDP and end the parasitism; or the North might be willing to declare Arewa Rep at last so that the South can have peace and develop at its own pace.

Asari Dokubo is a confused

Asari Dokubo is a confused human being. May be that is his crookry mind at work.We shall see how far this will get him. I mean being here and there at the same time

Asari is Bin Laden reincarnate

Why is DR Jonathan looking for BOKO HARAM. "The person whose picture appears above is Boko Haram" looks so much like Bin-laden. Dr Jonathan if he eats and dine with you, then you are very correct, Boko Haram in in your house. Oh yes Fed Govt is dialoguing with Boko Haram, oh I see, they are represented by Mujahideen, so you awarded him contract so Imam Shekau can collect through the back hand. What of DERI?

My bros, abeg check ur facts

My bros, abeg check ur facts properly b4 u speak in a public forum like dis. For ur info, all d the security officials of northern extraction have been supplanted by so called security cof niger delta extractio, n they hav either been transferred or rendered redundant so if any1 at all is giving GEJ rubbish advise, na una ppl.

DO NOT BE A FOOL

Since GEL Presidency Inception.

What project of monument can you point to in IJAW LAND.

We are fooling our brothers and God is watching.

East - West Road.

Coastal Road from Calabar to Lagos.

New Cities all by NDDC and Niger Delta Ministry.

Where are we now.

The Ijaw struggle was for monumental development of Niger Delta. GEJ has joined them. And it is very disheartening. What is all the fight about; all the contracts Asari got how many did they conclude. Money being pumped into amnesty should be used for massive Niger Delta Development. Paying youths for doing nothing is dangerous.

For How Long.

THEY DEPEND ON OUR OIL

THEY DEPEND ON OUR OIL REVENUE FOR SURVIVAL YET ABUSE US DAILY HERE AFTER STEALING US BLIND IN THE SOUTH SOUTH--ITS THEM IN THE FUEL SUBSIDY SCAM SO NO NOISE FOR NOW-ANIMALS

We will soon go Militant

All you bastard blood suckers attacking innocent Christians. just wait for us. Biafra Soldiers will get you down.

Akpos! Akpos!!

@Akpos the great, My head is very much on my head and the time of the British is quite different from now. I can guarantee you 100% that the so called ten ethnic groups would have big problem co-existing together. Is it the Ijaw and shekiri or Ogoni and Ndoni not to mention the others. Guy, read what our brother Deri wrote in response to one of the 3 questions i asked you, then sit down and take time to analyze it reasonably. All I see you shout about is Oil, Oil Oil. Wetin? And when talking about your so called republic, leave the SE out it, in fact restrict it your ethnic group alone for nobody would like to be part of anything that people of your reasoning are involved with. LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC OF AKPOS1's TRIBE.... HAHAHHAHAHA!!!!

the north

I put it to you that the north will survive without the fucking south, fuck your oil. just finish your murderous attack on the north, the killing and destruction of life of both young and old under the name of boko haram by Allah we will be back again. Ina sha ALLAH.

Oliver Twists in Nigeria - Lazy West & North

2all those who say that the SS are lazy, be reminded of d follwin facts if ur quest 4 our oil will allow u:
1)SPORTS- (ALL sports from soccer, Athletics, Boxing,Judo etc. Remember d slogan “Bendel No1”. The Old Bendel state now Edo/Delta was no1 for life in sports that even d lazy West/North hired mercenaries from d region to compete 4 them at a fee. 2) COMEDY-No need4 comparsm.
2) EDUCATION– Relative 2d population of d SS, they are actually ahead of the West or any other region in literacy level per indigene. Edo alone has 3 privat universities. This equals all d 3 private Universities in all 15 states of the core North. Find out!
3) SELF DETERMINATN/ENTERPRENEURSHIP/BRAVERY– D Ibrus, Onosode, Edewors ... The facts abound. Maj Mukoro of 1990Coup had a PhD in criminology, now a Prof here in the US. What of Boro, Nyiam, Gen.Effiong, Dokubo,Tompolo, Ateke,Okah,Metee,Dr Dikibo Goodluck & of course Great Jona. Want more? LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC OF THE SS & SE

@Na Mee - Dont be a FOOL

'Na Mee', I want to believe you still have your head as part of your body! If so, you shud first of all ask how the illegal British contraption called Nigeria with over 300 ethnic languages and groups have manged in the last 98 years. How then do you question or doubt how the peoples of the SS will manage its ethnic groups which are not up to 10. If your brain is still coordinating properly then you should have first of all examined how these brave SS peoples attempted the 1990 April 22 coup without the EAST, WEST or Core NORTH.

You should have also examined how they have fearlessly managed the several Militias under one umbrella unified body called MEND. For ur information, MEND is the co-ordinating organisation 4 all revolutionaries i the ND. That's perfect organisation. The logic is simple, one militia will be easy to tackle, so we operate frm different locations to beat the inept evil Nigerian armed group. We are ahead of u all.
LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE REP OF THE SS & SE

@ Na Mee - Dont be a FOOL

'Na Mee', I want to believe you still have your head as part of your body! If so, you shud first of all ask how the illegal British contraption called Nigeria with over 300 ethnic languages and groups have manged in the last 98 years. How then do you question or doubt how the peoples of the SS will manage its ethnic groups which are not up to 10. If your brain is still coordinating properly then you should have first of all examined how these brave SS peoples attempted the 1990 April 22 coup without the EAST, WEST or Core NORTH.

You should have also examined how they have fearlessly managed the several Militias under one umbrella unified body called MEND. For ur information, MEND is the co-ordinating organisation 4 all revolutionaries i the ND. That's perfect organisation. The logic is simple, one militia will be easy to tackle, so we operate frm different locations to beat the inept evil Nigerian armed group. We are ahead of u all.
LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE REP OF THE SS & SE

@Na Mee!! - Dont be a FOOL!

'Na Mee', I want to believe you still have your head as part of your body! If so, you shud first of all ask how the illegal British contraption called Nigeria with over 300 ethnic languages and groups have manged in the last 98 years. How then do you question or doubt how the peoples of the SS will manage its ethnic groups which are not up to 10. If your brain is still coordinating properly then you should have first of all examined how these brave SS peoples attempted the 1990 April 22 coup without the EAST, WEST or Core NORTH. You should have also examined how they have fearlessly managed the several Militias under one umbrella unified body called MEND. For ur information, MEND is the co-ordinating organisation 4 all revolutionaries i the ND. That's perfect organisation. The logic is simple, one militia will be easy to tackle, so we operate frm differen locations to beat the inept evil Nigerian armed group.
LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE REP OF THE SS & SE

only a mad man will believe Asare wrote this rubbish

What has changed since Azazi left as the NSA. Has Boko haram stopped the bombing or the killings of christians in the North by the fulani led boko haram--is the sultan of sokoto not an ex military general-what about dasuki-why have our maharajas not able to solve the problem in the North-the fulani North is populated by foreigners-the almajiri schools are going to be attended by non nigerians-that is the problem of the North--those in boko haram are mostly from burkina faso--they dont even speak english--its french--just like yusuf. No sane northern would want his kids to become suicide bombers--gov need to carry out a house to house search--until that is done to weed away the foreign elements there will be no peace--asares story is fake-there are laid down channels of communication between him and the president-it happened to atiku-so it can happen to anybody-

IF OIL IS A BIRTHRIGHT, NORTHERNERS TOO ARE SONS OF THE SOIL NOW

"Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State said yesterday that the state would soon make a presentation to the Federal Government on how to exploit the crude oil deposits discovered in commercial quantity in the state.
Wamakko spoke to journalists at the State House in Abuja in the course of the National Economic Council meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
He declined to give details of the discovery, saying these would be made public as soon as the presentation was made to the Federal Government.

“After having made the discovery we are going to make formal presentation to the Federal Government to commence the process or allow us to continue.

“Once we make the formal presentation to the Federal Government and there is fund, then we will talk to you in details on what it is and how it is,” he said."

DAILYTRUST

the man became a muslim

the man became a muslim because he wanted to marry a,muslim girl from Biu, Borno state. I now understand the militancy of Boko in relation to Asari!

@Deri. That piece I replied

@Deri. That piece I replied to @Akpos was meant for you. I thought it was Akpos that replied me. Meanwhile, what do you think you are achieving by your stands most time? I would want to believe that you just enjoy winding people up because you are very intelligent. And if the likes of you come together to reason out the way forward positively for the SS instead of allowing thugs and common criminals to be the voice. I believe the ND will be great.

@Akpos. I am very impressed

@Akpos. I am very impressed with your analysis regarding the other mineral resources in the ND apart from oil. But you have failed to answer my other 2 questions. So with this above mentioned knowledge, why do you always make it look as if oil is the ultimate resource that is in the ND? Why don't you focus more on educating our people on the need to unite and get rid of the bad politicians who are the main culprits here. You will also do well in encouraging the People of the SS on the need to pay more attention to these other recourses instead of hurling insults, promoting thuggery and crime as you display openly in the supporting of Asari and his likes. The solution to the problems of the SS lies with people like you, but you have to let go of anger and hatred to allow the solution flow from you. Remain blessed bro.

ASARI, AZAZI, JERRY GANA, ARE ALL BOKO MEMBERS

WAYYO!!! THE TRUTH IS OUT RIGHT ON THE DOOR STEP OF THE DRUNKEN FISHERMAN. ASARI WAS A STUDENT OF MOHAMMED YUSUF THE BH LEADER, JERRY GANA BAILED THEM WHEN THEY WERE ARRESTED. AZAZI FUNDED THEM UNTIL THE DRUNKEN FISHERMAN DISCOVERED AND FIRED HIM. UNITED STATES REPORT ALREADY INDICATED THAT TERRORISM TOOK ROOT IN NIGER DELTA. PLEASE DRUNKEN FISHERMAN ARREST THEM AND PUT THEM PERMANENTLY IN THE CAGE FOREVER.

I am Ibo-u fulani me yoruba-u nko? SS

(@DERI: Stop babbling like an idiot. Did you forget to pleasure yourself this morning or what? Are your hands getting too tired to do the job? Get a life, pal) That is not what is at stake here-we are going to start issuing special security ID cards to all indigenes of the SS-if u are not a holder pls leave for yr respective states now b4 we throw u out-its a clean up exercise-to weed the place of rogues-who when they see white they turn to white-black to black-Each state in the SS, will then build the largest shopping mall in each of the LGAs in d area-end all these fake drugs used in killing our people-its time we all go back to our respective states or zones-

@Na me-do u know d road to yr village

Mumu, one of the minerals used by the Chinese to stimulate their economy is coal. U are busy chasing goats around the globe-while your coal lies waste-b4 the discovery of oil-the ppl of the niger delta depended on palm products and rubber-as malaysia is doing-yes oil is a wasting asset-used in feeding the nation state of 9ja-but after oil comes gas-even the sand in the SS is big money for the glass industry around the globe-sadly we have fools presiding over the affairs of the niger delta-whose only concern are the water fronts-the greatest problem confronting the people of the SS is how to unchain themselves--they are being enslaved anew-bonded--and their governors are not helping matters-bayelsa state and rivers are already gone-to the highest bidders-sold to the parasites for a penny

@Akpos. All you need

@Akpos. All you need desperately is for the ND to cut off from Nigeria abi? Okay please let us know on this forum how, 1)it will benefit you in particular 2) What would happen if oil eventually goes the way of coal 3) How all the tribes within the ND will co-exist together. I await you response my brother.

IDIOT DERI

@DERI: Stop babbling like an idiot. Did you forget to pleasure yourself this morning or what? Are your hands getting too tired to do the job? Get a life, pal.

@Davis Amadi, your type of

@Davis Amadi, your type of views and opinions irritate people but you are the only person from the Niger Delta that has enlightened in the most recent times. i was thinking people from there do reason from there anus but you have proofed me wrong. keep it up. very sound judgement.

@Dan Arewa from Iran

@Dan Arewa: so you are telling the whole world that you knew...and so you were privy to your alleged asari's dealings who u alleged,"...recruited northern youth in ur struggle against Nigerian state. I know while u were living at old G.R.A ur house were full of northern Muslim Youth..." So the whole Nigerians and the world have read now that you say that, Northern moslem youths are there terrorists in Nigeria.

SS wasting time with 9jas--secede now-

GEJ has no game plan apart from working to improve the lot of faceless crooks and 419ners like Delta Queen and wahala. Pigs like them have no place in the Niger delta-these animals who share the same DNA with traitors like late Dennis Osadebe. Who betrayed the Ijaw nation. It was Osadebe who deceived the Ijaws into remaining in 9ja till date-For him the Ijaws would have long been gone- b4 1954-That was what the Brits advised them to do-but they would not listen-now they are seeing it all. If they can jail David West, assassinate Senator Obi Wali, Marshal Harry, hang Kensarowiwa, murder Dikibo, arrange with Brig Adekunle to kill Boro, is it Jona that they will spare or allow to rule the nation peacefully-what about abiola, awo and Gani? SS have no business in 9ja-we are better off without them. Our fishes are all gone-yet they insult us-4 feeding them-animals

Useless Crap

I seee some useless people talking about Jonathan ąπ∂ trying †ό̲̣̣̣̥ defend him; I feel very sorry for such clowns. I don't care what BH Ȋ̝̊̅§ doing in the North, that's the problem of the North †ό̲̣̣̣̥ deal with. Back home in the niger delta, we seem †ό̲̣̣̣̥ be celebrating cults ąπ∂ criminals. Militants Aяε̲̣̣̣̥ in †ђξ pay roll of Government, their officials, both state ąπ∂ local Govt, including the presidency. The country Ȋ̝̊̅§ where ȋ̝̊̅† Ȋ̝̊̅§ because of the irresponsible leadership of the past ąπ∂ present Govt. I'm from †ђξ niger delta, full one, complete, both mom ąπ∂ dad. Those of Ɣõµ who from the niger delta who think Jonathan Ȋ̝̊̅§ performing, Aяε̲̣̣̣̥ blind. Because the past leaders before him failed, so Ɣõµ expect him †ό̲̣̣̣̥ fail too? Useless.

We are here in trouble

We are at a juncture. We need to take a decision on this juncture. We are a people forged together by the power of nationality and destiny.

We must be involved. The security agencies need to re-invent themselves for the safety of this country!

God Help us!

What is all this about?

Sahara reporters..............I can not reconcile how you guys make your reports with the substance that you are trying to convey to the public.

News reportage is a serious business and not child's place.

Personally I am interested in the substance in the news and not grammar nor errors.

Asari Dokunbo............There is something that is not clear to me.

About 23years, General Babangida was Militrary president and commander in chief of the armed forces of Nigeria.

It was also about this period that he introduced Nigeria to OIC.

Can we then conclude that you were part of Gen. Babangida's reqruit for Jihad as widely believed?

Please I need detail explanations from you.