There are widespread speculations that President Bola Tinubu has barred all former Niger Delta agitators, including Asari Dokubo, from paying him a visit at the presidential villa.
According to Leadership, requests for courtesy visits by notable militant leaders and ethnic militias from the oil-rich region to Tinubu in the villa have lately been disapproved by the presidency.
The decision, MUK TV gathered, may not be unconnected to the fallout of the letter from the leader of the defunct Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahedeen Asari-Dokubo, to the president months ago.
Dokubo’s visit to the president was greeted with a public outcry, with many perceiving it as a denigration of Nigeria’s seat of power.
Tinubu was also reportedly disturbed by the bad image the aftermath of Dokubo’s visit gave to his government, hence his decision.
The president was bothered that all “verbal vituperations and militant activities” of Asari-Dokubo in the Niger Delta were subsequently linked to him after the June audience with the notable activist, Leadership reported.
Recall that in an interview with the State House reporters, immediately after stepping out of the Villa, Dokubo controversially accused the military of being responsible for oil theft in the Niger Delta, saying that some of them are sabotaging the fight against pipeline vandalism in the region.
The allegation, it was revealed, embarrassed and shocked Tinubu, especially because he made the shocking revelation moments after departing his office.
Sources within the presidency say that Dokubo’s outbursts against the military within the vicinity of the villa gave the impression that the president shared the same views with the notable ex-militant commander.
