No to Buhari or militants will hurt economy

A MILITANT group in Nigeria’s oilrich southern Niger Delta threatened on Thursday to cripple the economy if President Muhammadu Buhari is re-elected today.

The Niger Delta Avengers – who want their area to get a greater share of the oil revenue it produces – said they backed opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar and his promises to devolve more power to the regions.

The Niger Delta Avengers were behind a 2016 wave of violence, including attacks on pipelines and other facilities, that helped push Nigeria into recession.

The group, in a statement posted on its website, warned that if Buhari is re-elected there would be “a perpetual recession for Nigeria”.

Buhari later made a televised address promising that the government would ensure a free, fair and peaceful vote, without making any reference to the Avengers’ statement.

Meanwhile yesterday, a tribunal charged Nigeria’s suspended chief judge with breaching asset declaration rules, but adjourned his trial until after the presidential elections.

The government has come under criticism and accusations of meddling in the judiciary after Buhari last month suspended Walter Onnoghen.

In its ruling, the tribunal adjourned Onnoghen’s trial to March 11. |