Tinubu: OPC fires back at Asari Dokubo for reportedly calling Yoruba betrayers

The Reformed Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has come down hard on former Niger Delta militant leader, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, over his recent comments labeling the Yoruba ethnic group and President Bola Tinubu as betrayers.

In a viral online broadcast, Dokubo accused Tinubu and the Yoruba people of betrayal and declared his intention to ally with the North to work against Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Responding to the remarks, OPC (Reformed) leader,  Dare Adesope, issued a strongly worded statement in Lagos on Tuesday. He warned Dokubo against making divisive comments that could damage long-standing relations between the Yoruba and the Ijaw communities.

Adesope stressed that Dokubo does not speak for the Ijaw people and should be disregarded.

“Asari Dokubo didn’t represent the Ijaw people in his recent outbursts and he should be ignored and left to stew in his juice,” Adesope said.

He further reminded the former militant of the support he once acknowledged receiving from Tinubu.

Adesope pointed out that Dokubo had previously admitted in a 2023 online interview that Tinubu was instrumental to his post-prison rehabilitation.

“Tinubu bought him his first car on his return from prison and he also pay his children school fees, feeds his family and even give his wife a house,” he said.

According to Adesope, Dokubo’s anger stems from the fact that the pipeline surveillance contract in the Niger Delta was awarded to his fellow ex-militant, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and not him.

“Asari is a selfish two faced character who after visiting President Bola Tinubu two years ago promised to do all in his power to stop oil theft in the Niger Delta region thinking the pipeline contract would be given to him,” he stated.

“Asari cannot point to any of his followers he has empowered because he is a self-centered leader, let him mind his choice of words where Yoruba people are concerned or else we will restrict his movement in Yorubaland,” Adesope warned.

He also cited Dokubo’s involvement in Rivers State politics as an example of his empty threats.

“This is how he pushed Fubara bragging that if Wike removed him something would happen, but nothing happened except the state of emergency and he has not done anything since then. So, the Ijaw Nation I know can never descend so low to the point of requiring Asari Dokubo to lead it because his utterances are immature and unstable,” he added.