A former Niger Delta freedom fighter, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, has issued a stern warning to organizers planning a nationwide protest against economic hardship on August 1, cautioning them not to bring their demonstrations to the Niger Delta region.

Asari-Dokubo emphasized that the objectives of the protest do not align with the interests of the Niger Delta people and accused the organizers of exploiting the region’s resources for their own agendas.

During the Niger Delta Sensitisation Conference for Ethnic Nationalities, Youths, and Women held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Asari-Dokubo, a former leader of the now-defunct Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, expressed his strong opposition to the protest.

“I and all those who believe in me and those of you who are committed to the interest of the Niger Delta, we are not going to be part of any protest. It is as clear as that,” he stated firmly.

He stressed that while individuals have the right to protest, he also has the right to resist such actions.

“If anybody has the right to protest, I also have the right to resist protest. Where your right stops, that is where my right begins,” the former militant leader said.

Asari-Dokubo criticized the same people who protested against former President Goodluck Jonathan, a native of the Niger Delta, for now attempting to use similar tactics against President Bola Tinubu, a Southerner.

He urged the people of the Niger Delta not to be swayed by persuasive rhetoric from the protest organizers.

“I’m anti-protest. When our brother was here (referring to Jonathan), they protested. Today, another of our brothers is here. They want to protest. That is the truth,” Asari-Dokubo remarked.

“Are our needs included in their 10 points demand? No. So, we are not important to them. But it is our resources that they want to share.”

Drawing from past experiences, Asari-Dokubo referenced the #EndSARS protests, highlighting the negative consequences faced by protesters in the region.

He said: “Those who brought anti-protest and went to Oyigbo (Rivers State), they collected (they got what they deserved). Everybody knows, the government, the security agencies know it. I gave it to them.”

He called on the people of the Niger Delta not to be deceived by grandiose promises and statements from those who have not contributed positively to their communities.

Asari-Dokubo maintained that it would be unfair to blame President Tinubu for longstanding issues in the region and insisted that efforts should be made to address these problems rather than protesting against the current administration.

He accused those behind the protests of being sore losers from the recent elections, urging them to wait for the next election cycle in 2027.

He said: “When you lose the election, wait for another election season. It is four years. Sell yourself to the people, but you don’t want to. After you have failed, you continue. Then you’re not patriotic; you’re the problem of this country.

“President Bola Tinubu won the elections against all odds. No candidate has gone through the travails President Tinubu went through to win the elections.”

Asari-Dokubo said: “But if you are stubborn and you want to bring it here, I’m not President Tinubu, I’m not in the government, I’m not the Chief of Army Staff or the Inspector General of Police, but if you do it anyway, you will see it anyway.

“Don’t bring your protest here. This protest does not concern us, and anywhere you are doing your protest, if I’m there and you bring your protest, I know you’re a threat to me. And I will be a threat to you. That is it.”