Hon. Philip Agbese, the lawmaker representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has urged Niger Delta leader and former agitator Mujahid Asari Dokubo to stop undermining Nigerian military efforts.
In a statement issued yesterday, Agbese said it was “unpatriotic, uncharitable, and unfair” for Dokubo to make unsubstantiated claims against a highly respected institution such as the Armed Forces.
Dokubo claimed that the majority of oil thefts in the oil-rich Niger Delta region could be traced back to troops.
He stated this during a visit to President Bola Tinubu at the State House on Friday.
But Agbese, who admitted to agreeing with the Niger Delta leader on many issues, said he doesn’t believe his latest statements.
According to the Benue lawmaker, “Dokubo is attempting to bring down the military and make militancy popular in the eyes of the people” by making such false claims.
He stated that the Nigerian Armed Forces have recently proven to be professional, patriotic, and dedicated to defending the country’s territorial integrity.
While admitting that there are a few bad apples in the military, Agbese believes it is unfair to generalize because it will demoralize troops who make sacrifices for the country.
Agbese, on the other hand, warned that militancy must not be allowed to return to the country if that is what Dokubo wants.
I appreciate Dokubo who is my good friend for his unequivocal stand on a lot of issues but I think he missed the point on this particular subject,” he said.
Our officers are not in any way complicit even though much can still be achieved in the areas of protecting our national assets in the Niger Delta.
Dokubo simply wants to be involved which is in his right. We must however, not destroy the reputation of others to get what we want.
The sacrifices of our military officers and men who make all the sacrifices to keep the country together should not be taken for granted. If there are lapses, we expect Dokubo, as an elder statesman, to provide relevant information and support to the troops.
We have gone past the era of militancy. If that is what Dokubo is clamouring about, I’m sorry it is not an option. Our military has shown to be equal to the tasks, Agbese added.