Anambra based Lawyer and security expert, Barr Christopher Enemuo has stated that the reason ex militant leader, Alhaji Asari Dokubo has not been arrested for brandishing prohibited fire arm in a video was because he seems to be enjoying the support of President Bola Tinubu.
Enemuo, in a an article titled: Regulating The Participatory Industries In Nigeria: Case of Asari and his Militants, stated that it was not a surprise that instead of Asari to be arrested for brandishing arms and making threats, we was rather rewarded with a meeting with Mr President at the presidential villa.
Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele is still undergoing trial for mere possession of a gun, which has been described as nonfunctional and outdated, and has been in detention at the DSS facility in Abuja for months.
Enemuo in his lengthy piece said: “The boldness in owning unregulated entities in recent times has pointed towards the direction that Nigeria within its territories has had private militia mercenaries operations over the decade. This is a fact which also was contained in Asari Dokubo’s testament at The Presidential Villa.
“It is no longer unclear that Nigeria has an industry which has earned validity in real times, however; it would be significant to understand the specific kind of mercenary participation which exists within its environs.
“We must understand why Chief Asari Dokubo should not be referred to as a non-state actor by all defining means. He is rather a mercenary participant which is not under any regulation in Nigeria, therefore Asari is running a criminal organisation within the legitimate territorial soil of the Nation.
“At the Presidential Villa Abuja, Asari said he said what he said because he is a participant and he knew President Tinunbu would protect him.
“Within the context and body language of Asari, he wasn’t trying to infer that President Asiwaju would give him protection merely for what he said on national TV, it was clear to Nigerians that he sought for a re-employment by the new government, therefore had gone to renew an existing contract schedule.
“This enterprise which Dokubo owns and runs is to him a legitimate contract which needs to be renewed by the new administration, however, until the federal government proves otherwise, there exists a legitimate enterprise which wears an “executive fiat content”.”
Enemuo said there are indications that Asari does not operate his militia without the backing of Nigerian Army and other security bodies.
“It is an impossible task that an industry such as mercenary participation would succeed independently without the cooperation of the traditional military and other law enforcement agencies of a country. Therefore, for such an industry to fail is for it to isolate itself from an important aspect of its success.
“Going by the narrative by Asari as to the involvement of some military elements having hands in oil theft and their inability to tackle the menace of insecurity in the country, Asari was clever during this specific information. However, one with grey understanding might think he was challenging the entire military, but that was not so, rather he made a clever communication seeking real and future alliance with the home military.
“He, Asari did not entirely challenge the Nigerian military, but rather he affirmed that the military has 99% of what his private mercenary outfit has, but still, they pretend to be incapacitated in fighting insurgency, banditry and terrorism. With careful observation of his testimonial content, he sounded like one who is calling on the military to come take back responsibility so he retires and winds up his enterprise.”
