Former leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante, High Chief Ateke Tom has urged President-Elect, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari(rtd.) to continue the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme.
Ateke Tom who also congratulated Buhari on his victory at the polls also advised him to collaborate with Niger Delta Leaders.
Tom who spoke with newsmen in Okrika Local Government Area on Friday said “I am congratulating Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on his victory during the election. We thank God for today that Buhari is now our President-elect and we pray to God to give him wisdom to lead our country aright.
“We want him to work with the real leaders in the Niger Delta region and not those who only parade themselves as leaders, but they are not real leaders. He (Buhari) should always speak with the Niger Delta leaders, especially as it concerns the development of the region.
“He should not forget the Amnesty Programme because we always remember the struggle that eventually led to the declaration of the Amnesty Programme. We did not get it (Amnesty Programme) through the backdoor. So, we want it to continue.
“We are ready to work with Buhari. Some people are saying they want to go back to the creeks and blow up oil installations, but me, Ateke Tom, is not interested in all those things and I assure the President-elect that nobody will go back to the creeks.
“I am a man, who also have a say in the Niger Delta region and one of the former top fighters, I am using the opportunity to assure Nigerians that nobody will go back to the creeks.”
He also talked about the disagreement between him and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Ameachi, he said “Everybody knows that Amaechi hates me. Up till now, Amaechi still hates me. Unless our incoming President will be thoughtful, Amaechi could convince him (Buhari) to fight me. The politician only knows how to lie.
“Amaechi hates me. He (Amaechi) was not at the Okrika rally and those who were there on that day mentioned the real people they saw there, but Amaechi must mention my name. But God will help him (Amaechi). He will change because it has been said that your worst enemy could be your best friend. There is no problem, one day, we will become best of friends.”
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