Why I Was Arrested In Benin Republic – Asari Dokubo

Former President of the Ijaw Youth Council and leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, who was arrested last week in Republic of Benin, has said that those opposed to the 2015 presidential ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan were behind his arrest.

Dokubo-Asari, who appeared unperturbed about his arrest outside Nigeria, spoke to journalists on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Friday night:

"It can also happen here in Nigeria, it can happen anywhere in the world."

"The people and government of Republic of Benin have no problem with me."

"But if people allege that somebody is a leader of Boko Haram, the government of that country will investigate the person."

"The allegation has much to do with 2015 because when you read comments on social media, you find out that anybody who is against President Goodluck Jonathan, will want to vilify me and make sure I die before 2015."

"But they are not going to succeed; I am not going to die."

"I will be present in 2015 and I will do what I am going to do to ensure that Jonathan wins in 2015."

"There is nothing they can do about it."

"This is their last fight and it is so unfortunate that the way and manner they are going with show how immature they are."

Speaking on the reports that he was flown into Abuja in a presidential jet, Dokubo-Asari said: "That media report shows what Nigerian press is all about."

"There is not truth in that report."

"I just arrived from Cotonu."

"I drove in my car from Cotonu to Lagos airport where I boarded aero contractors flight to Abuja."

"The report is not true. No presidential jet was sent to me."

"Most of the things they have always written against President Goodluck Jonathan is also falsehood."

"The press in Nigeria is manipulated and instigated."