Asari Dokubo To Wike: “I Have The Capacity To Contain You”

By Akinwale Kasali

“I will shoot down your Military and Police helicopters”

Asari Dokubo, a well-known Rivers State-born warlord has sent a strong message to Nyesom Wike, immediate past Governor of Rivers State, and now, President Bola Tinubu’s Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Dokubo is warning Wike to get out of Rivers State, to be careful, to stop the crisis he is allegedly stoking, and stop “monitoring” his (Dokubo’s house).

Dokubo’s warning yesterday followed the Rivers State Local Government election which held in the state same yesterday, Saturday, October 5, 2024.

While Wike and his loyalists –  factions of both the PDP and APC –  insisted that the election should not hold, the Rivers State Government, headed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and other Political Parties, insisted it must hold.

It did, in spite of the many obstacles against it, including the inexplicable withdrawal of the Police from the exercise.

In insisting on no-election, the Wike group flaunted a judgement from a Federal High Court, Abuja, while the State Government flaunted one from the State High Court which said it should go on.

Dokubo is one of the majority of Rivers State indigenes and residents who insisted on the election, and trooped out to vote. But he raised an alert that helicopters, allegedly, carrying Soldiers and Policemen were over-flying his house. He alleged they were sent by Wike, and he threatened to shoot them down. He, also, said he has the capacity to contain the threat against him, which he said were instigated by Wike. Even the Government, he claimed, knows he has the capacity. He emphasized that nobody can subdue Rivers people or make them Wike’s slaves.

Following is part of Dokubo’s statement which he video- recorded and released on 5th October 2024.

“Good morning, good afternoon,  good evening. As I am talking to you, Wike’s Soldiers, Wike’s Police have been flying over my house and the compound in the last 30 minutes with two helicopters.

“I have the capacity to contain them. Nigeria cannot surrender to Wike. Rivers people will not surrender to Wike, Ijaw people will not succumb to Wike.

“I have the capacity to contain them, and the Government knows that I have the capacity to contain them because I have been containing other people.

“I am 60 years old and I have never been afraid of death, I have always embraced death, so am not afraid.

“So all those that are there, when their helicopter is shot down, let no one blame me. I will shoot down the helicopter.  I will shoot down the helicopter and I swear to Allah, I will shoot it down.

“Whoever is commanding them should be warned. I will shoot down the helicopter. Enough is enough, that Tinubu will hand over Rivers State into slavery to Wike.

“Wike is a nobody without the paraphenalia of office, let them remove his fame.

“Let them remove his paraphernalia from him. I think he has billions, he knows the market and he has bought convoy. Let them remove this thing from him and let us see.

“Go and vote. I will vote and nothing will happen. We will vote and the vote will be counted. Local Government Chairmen will be sworn in. Chairmen will be sworn in and we will see. I dont want to talk too much.

“There is a Military formation in this community and we did not look for their trouble.

“Do you think I am a coward like you.

“You will see our capacity.”

The results of the election have been declared by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.

The Governor’s proxy party, Action Peoples Party, APP, swept the polls. It won 22 out of 23 Loca Government Areas.