Babangida Campaign Chief Accuses Nigerian President's Supporters of Threats

A Nigerian media tycoon has said he stands by his allegation that supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan have threatened to kidnap his eldest son.

Raymond Dokpesi, who is director general of the presidential campaign for former Nigerian military leader Ibrahim Babangida, said he received several phone calls also threatening to attack his business if he did not step down from his post.

He said the alleged threats also involve the militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, known as MEND.“On [last] Tuesday, a group of leaders from the South-South who are frontline campaigners from President Goodluck Jonathan met and decided to expel me from a body which I am not a member of, which calls, or styles, itself as a South-South Leaders and Elders Forum. Less than 24 hours after that, MEND [Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta] decided to issue a claim declaring me persona non grata in the zone from which I come,” he said.