Hand of Esau in October 1 Bombings
UPDATED On Saturday, 2nd October, Nigerian Guerilla leader Henry Okay was arrested in South Africa in connection with the dastardly bombing of Nigeria’s capital which marred the Golden Jubilee celebrations. The home of the MEND leader was searched by South African operatives on the eve of the bombings.
The South African operatives who failed to arrest Mr Okah, were acting on intelligence provided by the Nigerian government about a plot to disrupt the golden jubilee anniversary celebration. Okah’s arrest on Saturday came on the heels of a statement issued by a group purporting to be the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). The statement claimed MEND was responsible for the attack in which 12 people died and dozens were injured when two car bombs exploded in the city centre. MEND, which was created in 2006, has been responsible for attacks on oil companies operating in the Niger Delta, often through sabotage, guerilla warfare or kidnapping of foreign oil workers. Attacks on Nigeria’s oil infrastructure raise oil prices, leading to speculations that the rebel group was sponsored by a global oil mafia working through former Delta State Governor and fugitive James Ibori. Ibori is wanted by UK authorities on charges of money laundering. Okah was arrested in Angola and deported to Nigeria in February 2008 to face the death penalty on 62 counts of treason, terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and arms trafficking in a private trial. The private trial, which began in April 2008 ended with the release of Okah after he and MEND accepted an amnesty from the Nigerian government in return for laying down their arms last year. Speaking on Al Jazeera, the rebel leader however claims that he knows nothing of the October 1 bombings. According to Okah, he was arrested after he refused to concede to demands made in a phone call from a senior aide of President Jonathan pressuring him to implicate Northern Nigerian politicians. Ima Niboro, spokesman for the President has dismissed the claim and challenged Okah to name the official in question.
‘Not Okah’ – Gbomo Jomo
Okah’s denials were on Monday substantiated by Gbomo Jomo, a spokesperson for MEND who was questioned in e-mails by African News Live. According to Jomo, Henry Okah knew nothing of the Abuja attack, claiming that MEND acted responsibly by warning the Nigerian authorities about the attack. Jomo’s statement leads to the question of who is pulling the organization’s strings and suggests that Okah may have lost out to more extreme elements in the leadership of the group. A break-away faction of the group had rejected the Federal government’s offer of amnesty last year. Friday’s attack was the first in the nation’s capital. Asked by African News Live how killing bystanders would help meet their cause, Jomo said: “The Abuja attack was a symbolic one meant to attract attention to our cause, and that was why we took the risk of compromising on the element of surprise by forewarning the government to keep the public away from vehicles before and after a blast, which they ignored”. Gbomo claimed the group sent an email to Nigerian authorities 30 minutes before the bombs were detonated, warning of the attacks. However, sources have revealed that Gbomo’s denial of Okah’s involvement might be a ruse. The former leader of MEND has been reported as being involved in a plot to destabilize the government since kinsman President Jonathan was“not ready to put serious money on the table“. Other speculations suggest that Okah has gone renegade, acting alone and might have lent himself to political influence.
Not MEND
On Tuesday, a 100-man-strong delegation of the former leaders of MEND paid a visit to the Nigerian President to commiserate over the loss of lives in the attack and to lend support to the investigations. According to the delegation, the October 1 attack was not the handiwork of the organization and was a major departure from the modus operandi the group had formerly employed. Victor ‘Bayloaf’ Ebikabowe said: “MEND is not responsible. We have disarmed. We say to the world, these people claiming they are MEND are impersonating. It is a terrorist act. The people responsible for the act should be dealt with accordingly.” “We represent the people of Niger Delta, our past leaders who have died in the process of this struggle, such as Ken Saro wiwa, and others will be turning in their graves that somebody who claims that he is part of us will do that,” said Asari Mudjahedeen Dokubo. Dokubo continued “We call on the government to investigate properly and fish out those involved and give out the most appropriate punishment. Let there be no leniency”. The contingent of ex-Militants included Asari Dokubo (AKA Alhaji Dokubo), Victor Ebikabowe (AKA Bayloaf), Ateke Tom and G. Ekpomopolo (AKA Tompolo). Also in the delegation was the President of Ijaw Youth Council, Karomema Mabiye. Asari Dokubo who has been quoted as saying he would rather die for President Jonathan than support another political leader also said: “We may have different political opinion [sic], but that does not mean that we do not know our root. We are not going to sell our patrimony. We will not do it”.
Who is Gbomo Jomo?
The delegation also preempted the question of Gbomo Jomo’s celebrated media statement crediting the attack to MEND. According to Tompolo, Jomo Gbomo was an alias created by the group: “Jomo Gbomo does not exist, if the person handling the media sector has a problem and another person takes over so far he has the password of the email he can use the name of Jomo Gbomo and cover up as Jomo Gbomo. So there is nothing as Jomo Gbomo, he does not exist.” Earlier in the week, the Nigerian government accused former military dictator General Ibrahim Babangida of complicity in the 1st October bombings. General Babangida was uncharacteristically absent from the venue of the Golden Jubilee celebrations at Eagle Square where a smaller third explosive was detonated injuring a security officer. President Goodluck Jonathan and dignitaries including more than a dozen visiting Heads of State were in attendance at the venue of the celebrations. Last week, a group of Northern Nigerian leaders paid a visit to the retired General urging him to put self-interest aside and abandon his bid for Presidency in order to aid the North’s chance of presenting an acceptable consensus candidate, stating he was not an auspicious choice. Babangida, who was responsible for the annulment of the Presidential elections on 12 June 1993 has been seen in recent times as possessing a sense of entitlement to the helm of affairs in Nigeria, having allegedly claimed that he has been connected to every change of power in Nigeria’s government since independence.
No More Mr. Nice Guy
President Goodluck Jonathan, who is from the South-South oil region of Nigeria, has vowed to bring the culprits to book. The President has also barred all senior officials from leaving the Country. Investigations led to the arrest and questioning of Raymond Dokpesi, the Director-General of General Babangida’s campaign team by authorities on Monday. Security officials found texts linking Dokpesi to the attacks on mobile telephones belonging to persons arrested in connection with the bombing. Dokpesi who is the owner of Nigeria’s private television and radio stations AIT and RayPower FM was released on bail late last night after giving valuable information to the Police. It is not yet known if he will be arraigned. Information emerging in the late hours of Tuesday indicates that General Babangida may also be questioned. President Goodluck Jonathan stated in Abuja yesterday that the bombing victims paid the supreme sacrifice “to reveal the demons among us [who] have clothed themselves with all kinds of names“.
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