“Ijaw Under Siege?” Okah Alleges Foreign Plot, Slams Jonathan as Diezani’s London Trial Sparks 2027 Conspiracy Fears
By Passman Akpos
Henry Emomotimi Okah, a Niger Delta oil militant serving a jail term in South Africa, has launched a blistering attack on former President Goodluck Jonathan, describing him as “inept and a weakling” unfit to govern Nigeria.
Okah, who is incarcerated in Pretoria for his role in the 2010 Independence Day bombings in Abuja that killed 12 people, made the remarks in a letter addressed to the Ijaw Nation from his prison cell. His comments also touched on the ongoing corruption trial of former Petroleum Minister Diezani Allison-Madueke in London.
In the letter titled “Coordinated Attacks On The Unity Of The Ijaw Nation: Diezani Allison-Madueke,” Okah accused Jonathan of historically undermining Niger Delta leaders and activists for political gain. He alleged that during his presidency, Jonathan collaborated with foreign governments and leaders, including former South African President Jacob Zuma and current President Cyril Ramaphosa, to suppress voices from the Niger Delta.
“As I have repeatedly said, Goodluck Jonathan is inept and a weakling who is unfit to be a governor, and as president of Nigeria, was an aberration,” Okah wrote.
Okah further claimed that the prosecution of Allison-Madueke in the United Kingdom is politically motivated and aimed at influencing Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential elections. He alleged that British authorities were selectively targeting certain Nigerian political figures while ignoring others.
He also referenced President Bola Tinubu in his statement, questioning what he described as inconsistencies in the UK’s anti-corruption actions involving Nigerian leaders.
The former militant argued that foreign governments have historically interfered in Nigeria’s domestic political affairs. He cited past cases involving the late former Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and former Delta State Governor James Ibori, alleging that foreign judicial systems were used to shape Nigeria’s political succession battles.
Okah maintained that while some of the individuals mentioned may not have been morally fit for leadership, foreign intervention in Nigeria’s internal matters remains unacceptable.
Recalling his own arrest and detention, Okah alleged collusion between Nigerian and South African authorities that led to his imprisonment, claims that authorities in those countries have previously denied.
He concluded his letter with a call for unity among the Ijaw people, urging vigilance against what he described as coordinated external and internal threats to their political and cultural integrity.
Okah has been detained since 2007 following his arrest in Angola and subsequent transfer to Nigeria before being convicted in South Africa. His latest comments are expected to spark renewed debate over foreign judicial involvement in cases concerning Nigerian political figures and the broader question of sovereignty in anti-corruption prosecutions.
