Former Commissioner for Information and Culture, Major General Ibrahim Bata Malgwi Haruna, has strongly rebuked former Niger Delta Militants leader, Asari Dokubo, for accusing the Nigerian military of involvement in oil theft in the Niger Delta region. In an exclusive interview with Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Tuesday morning, General Haruna vehemently refuted Dokubo’s claims, stating that he lacks the moral authority to speak on oil theft unless he is prepared to apologize to the Nigerian people.
Dokubo, during a press briefing following a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House on Friday, had accused the military high command of colluding in oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta. He argued that ordinary citizens do not possess the necessary resources and technology to engage in such illicit activities, particularly connecting pipes directly to oil wells to extract crude oil.
In response to Dokubo’s allegations, General Haruna pointed out the inconsistency in Dokubo’s statements. He questioned the former militant leader’s involvement in oil theft and the financing of his empire in the region. General Haruna insinuated that Dokubo may be deflecting attention from his own culpability, suggesting that he might be enjoying the proceeds of oil theft while accusing soldiers and others of petty theft.
“Is Asari Dokubo free from oil theft? Is he not a beneficiary of oil theft?” General Haruna challenged. He further questioned the source of Dokubo’s wealth, alluding to the possibility of millions of dollars stashed in his bank accounts. General Haruna contended that Dokubo and others in similar positions could not have attained their current status without being immersed in the illegal activities and benefiting from the spills of oil that metaphorically drip from their ears and mouths.
Furthermore, General Haruna emphasized that the allegations leveled against the military were an attempt to divert attention from the underlying issue— the failure of security and operational measures in the region. He stressed that those who have access to the military and other services often point a finger at the military while having three fingers pointing back at themselves.
The interview with General Haruna sheds light on the ongoing accusations of oil theft in the Niger Delta region. The discourse between the former Commissioner for Information and Culture and Asari Dokubo reveals a tense atmosphere surrounding the issue, with the Nigerian military being put under scrutiny. As the investigation into oil theft continues, the nation eagerly awaits further developments and a resolution to the underlying security challenges in the Niger Delta.
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