The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, has said last Friday’s meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was held to douse mounting tension in the region and not to threaten any political party, presidential candidate or section of the country.
Kuku explained in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, on Tuesday that contrary to reports in a section of the media, the meeting was attended by leaders of former agitators in the region as well as youth leaders from other ethnic groups in the Niger Delta and the South East.
“It was not a meeting of only ex-militant leaders like Tompolo, Boyloaf and others. Rather, there were youth leaders from the Ijaw, Urhobo, Igbo and other ethnic groups. It was a peace meeting chaired by the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson.
“The purpose was to quickly douse the tension arising from the attack on President Jonathan’s campaign convoy in some states in the North. The President is from a region and his people are worried given the kind of reports in the media about the attack during his campaign in the North. So we needed to quickly nip in the bud any reprisal that could occur in the Niger Delta.
“President Jonathan’s people are solidly behind him and it is natural for them to express concern when the hate campaign against him was beginning to manifest in violent attacks,” Kuku said.
The presidential aide dismissed the call for his sack by the Buhari campaign organization over his presence at the meeting, saying it is laughable.
“I am the President’s Adviser on Niger Delta and such meeting falls under my purview. Even if somebody issued a threat, how is that my position or that of the President?
“I advise the APC and its candidate to focus on the election issues and how to get a certificate for General Muhammadu Buhari and not provoke another round of violence in the country.
“President Jonathan remains focused and will continue to work not only for the peace of the Niger Delta but also for the unity of the whole country.”
