Aftermath Of Jonathan’s Exit: Ex-Niger Delta Militants Tone Down Lifestyles

Less than four months after the end of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, the robust and millionaire lifestyles of known ex-militant leaders from states of the Niger Delta has changed tremendously. Gone are those days when monetary rewards and multi-million naira contracts in various forms came their way.

It was not uncommon to see some of them flying private and chattered flights and living larger than life while Jonathan held sway as president.

Theirs was more a replica of the new kids on the block who came into sudden wealth and decided to flaunt it with careless abandon. A drive to the home of a typical ex-militant leader would reveal the presence of scores of armed mobile policemen as security aides, escort vehicles and exotic cars in abundance. One was also bound to meet a lot of their boys hanging around their bosses and enjoying choice drinks while elderly people in need of one favour of the other thronged the house.


But with the exit of Jonathan from power following his defeat at the polls, a lot of the ex-militants’ lavish lifestyle has tapered off, especially those among them who failed to plan for the future; they have seemingly returned to the pre-Jonathan era when they had nothing except their monthly allowances from the Presidential Amnesty Office.

However, few of them decided to plan ahead. Some ventured into businesses like sand dredging while others ventured into politics.

Bayelsa ex-militant leaders such as the second-in-command in charge of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Dr Ebikabowei Victor-Ben, known along the creeks as BoyLoaf; Pastor Reuben Wilson, known as Pastor Reuben; Comrade Eris Paul, known as General Ogunboss, and Africa Ukparisia, known as General Africa, who hitherto enjoyed a robust lifestyle of millionaires, have adopted quieter lifestyles.

Investigation  showed that the defeat of the Jonathan administration, which was the major source of revenue and patronage, and the cancellation of the million-dollar pipeline surveillance contracts awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) may have got them to realise that they have to tone down on their lavish lifestyles.