Biafra: Ateke Tom Decries Campaign Of Calumny

The leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante Comrade Ateke Tom has decried the campaign of calumny against him on the issue of the struggle for a Biafran state. He said it is disheartening that his name has been drawn into the issue several times without him having taken any position whatsoever.

High Chief Tom told Niger Delta Renaissance blog that he is angry over recent news reports that he has sent a note of warning to the leader of the Independent Peoples of Biafra IPOB against engaging in his struggle for an independent state. Ateke Tom questioned the rights he has to question another man's struggle.

Comrade Ateke Tom said all he is interested right now is to preach peace in the Niger Delta region and not to instigate divisionists tendencies. He urged members of the press to seek clarifications before jumping to conclusions. "The other day they said I was championing the cause of Biafra and today they are saying I am warning Nnamdi Kanu this is not fair. I have not made any statement on the struggle for an independent state of Biafra and nobody should publish what I did not say.I know where this is coming from and will seek a retraction from the publishers of the said story and if they refuse, I will use all legal means to clear my name" he said.

On the Rivers rerun elections he said he was grateful to the people of Okrika for heeding his call that peace reign. " I sent town criers all over Okrika and radio jingles urging Rivers people to vote their conscience without resorting to violent conducts. It is heartwarming that they heeded my call especially in Okrika area where we did not witness any form of violence"

High Chief Ateke Tom however decried the large presence of military men during the polls. " I woke up to the large presence of military men around my house and was told it was the same every where. I wondered why the military presence in the town when we are not a state of war? The peace in Okrika has come to stay and hopefully it will extend to all parts of the state. It is not in our own interest to give a picture of violence in the region for political gains when there is none." he said.