Why OPC is openly supporting Jonathan, Gani Adams reveals

Gani Adams, OPC National Leader

The National Coordinator, Oodua Peoples Congress, Chief Gani Adams, has explained the reason his militia group has been openly supporting President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid.

According to Adams, his open support for President Jonathan arises from the fact that aside from the fact that he has promised to implement the recommendations of the National Conference report, either the Presidency’s moves were political or not, he has been able to do what other government had not not done by empowering the group.

OPC members on rampage

He maintained that while Jonathan has been able to empower the group with a N9bn pipeline contract, the Lagos State government has not deem it fit to give the group any empowerment programmed despite the security the group has been rendering to the state and its environs.  

Adams said, “Whether it is a strange coincidence or not, an empowerment is an empowerment. We are citizens of this country. I have paid my dues and I never got this opportunity in my life. I have never got a job from the government. Whether Jonathan has done it to his advantage or not, he is our President. We are his subjects.

OPC members led by Gani Adams campaigning for President Jonathan in Lagos

“When your brother failed to give you a job and somebody from South-South gives you, then your brother should be ashamed. The budget of Lagos State is a lot and we never benefited a dime from the state government. Meanwhile, our presence here is a security advantage to Lagos State.

“They say an idle hand is the devil’s workshop. If we have enough resources, our standard of living will be improved. We have lost about 7,000 members to this struggle. Many people have been handicapped and some are in detention. Some have been frustrated.

“The Niger Delta (ex militants) have been enjoying amnesty for the past four years. We refused to accept amnesty because we believe we didn’t commit any offense. Now this is not amnesty, it is about a job we have been doing free of charge or by getting peanuts on the street.”