BEVERLY HILLS, January 29, (THEWILL) – Niger Delta ex-militant commander, Ateke Tom has disclosed that yesterday’s verdict of the Supreme Court affirming the victory of Chief Nyesom Wike as winner of the April 11 governorship election in Rivers State averted the bloodshed and killing that would have been rampant had there been a governorship re-run election in the state.
Ateke, who made this observation at his family house in Ngeme-Biri Komju, Okrika Local government of Rivers State on Friday, stated that killings, rape cases, intimidation and harassment were already going on ahead of the apex court judgment.
Stressing that the ruling has reduced tension and averted deaths of innocent citizens of the state, he accused some politicians in the state of using the military to intimidate supporters of Governor Wike in the name of searching for illegal arms.
The repentant Niger Delta warlord revealed that his house was the next in line before God used the Supreme Court justices to stop them.
“My brother, Rivers State was set for another bloody killing; if you look at the security situation of the state you will understand that killing, rape, intimidation injustice and harassment were ongoing before the Supreme Court verdict.”
“They started with Wike Supporters; houses were being raid by military in the name of retrieving illegal arms. A lot of people were killed; you can imagine somebody like me who is a peacemaker in Niger Delta region was targeted. My house was the next; I thank God for what had happened,” he stated.
Speaking about the resumed attack on the oil pipelines in Niger Delta region, Ateke said those blowing up pipelines are on their own, even as he warned Niger Delta youths to desist from any act capable of sabotaging the Nigeria economy.
He cautioned youths in Rivers State who are planning to hijack the national and state house of Assemblies elections in the state to give peace a chance and allow the elections to take place under the atmosphere of free and fair election.
While calling on all Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign, Ateke described Buhari as a nice man who only needed the support of all to succeed. He however warned that the President must not work with what wrong advisers tell him.
