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Lauretta Onochie, the social media aide of President Muhammadu Buhari, has suggested that the invitation by an Abuja court to former President Goodluck Jonathan to serve as a witness in a corruption trial could be the reason for the resumption of hostilities by Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group wrecking havoc on oil and gas installations in the region.
In a post on Twitter, Onochie, a brash-talking aide who takes the war to the thousands of her followers on the social media feed, who love to hate her, said, “A Nigerian Court insists Pres Jonathan appear before it & the Niger Delta Avengers come alive! Still wondering who owns the NDA?”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been invited as a witness in the trial involving Olisa Metuh, a former PDP official accused of receiving N400m from the former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, which is alleged to be proceeds of misappropriated funds.
The message has been retweeted 149 times and over a hundred people liked the post. In a country where the line between official government communication and careless banter has become so blurry, it could well serve as official government response.
In August, Shehu Garba, the Senior Special Assistant to the President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, told the world that the infestation of rodents has prevented his principal from resuming office after more than three months outside the country on medical treatment.
The reactions were divided on social media with many responding in support and several others vilifying her for the post.
After months of cessation of a virulent bombing campaign that cut Nigeria’s crude oil production by a third and contributed to sinking the economy into a recession when Nigeria lost nearly 40 percent of its oil sales, the militants are threatening even greater violence.
In a statement posted on its website Friday afternoon, the group said it would resume hostilities any day from now, saying the Buhari administration has not been sincere with its peace talks and promises for the Niger Delta.
The group also condemned a former top militant in the region, Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a. Tompolo, saying he had failed to live up to his leadership roles for those who seek absolute “emancipation” for the region.
The statement was signed by the group’s spokesperson, named Mudoch Agbinibo, who also announced a string of successful attacks on oil and gas facilities that sent major international oil firms like Shell and Chevron deferring activities last year.
