TheCable

The Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group, has adopted Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as its candidate in the February 16 election.

In a statement by Mudoch Agbinino, its spokesman, the avengers criticised the adoption of Buhari by other militant groups in the region.

They also warned the international community and multinational corporations in the region to withdraw their workforce and services from the oil region within the period of elections.

Avengers had claimed responsibility for bombing pipelines in 2016, bringing the nation’s oil output to less than one million barrels per day.

The militants said the warning to the multinational corporations was an alert for them “not to be casualties to the ongoing securitisation and provocation in the Niger Delta by the Nigerian military command.”

“As a warning and closing note; we want to resound it to members of the International Community, multinational corporations and subsidiaries’ operatives to withdraw their workforce and services from Niger Delta within the period of this elections,” the statement read.

“We are in charge of the struggle now and our strike teams are active and gallantly waiting to receive instructions from the high command to cripple the Nigerian economy again if Buhari is rigged back to office. And this time, it will be a perpetual recession for Nigeria, as we shall not relent until oil stops to flow in the pipes that braces our feet in our land.

“We are adopting Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as the sole candidate to be voted for by all the people of the Niger Delta as a result of his political ideology, which is in tandem with our agitation for equitable and fair principles of federalism.

“The high command is convinced that when elected come February 16th, 2019, the government of Alhaji (Dr) Atiku Abubakar will not only restructure Nigeria, but will reverse the inimical ownership rights to natural resources alongside promises that falls within the basis upon which we declared ‘Operations Red Economy’ against the evil government of Nigeria.

“We use this medium to advise Alhaji Abubakar that when elected into office, the cardinal demands of restructuring of Nigeria should kick start within six (6) months to forestall further agitation from the Niger Delta.”

Some militants and ex-militants in the Niger Delta region had, on Wednesday, endorsed the reelection bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The militants said they believe that the interest of the region would be well served under Buhari.