A media aide to the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, James Bwala, has criticized former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo over his visit to President Bola Tinubu.

Bwala accused Dokubo of making outlandish and troubling claims over oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

Dokubo had linked oil bunkering in the Niger Delta to top Army, military and Navy officials.

The former Niger Delta warlord claimed that ordinary citizens do not have the resources and technology to engage in oil bunkering.

He also alleged that ordinary Nigerians could not afford the machinery required to connect pipes directly to oil heads to tap crude from the source except experts in the military.

But in a reaction, Atiku’s aide, Bwala thrashed Dokubo’s claims, describing them as troubling.

Tweeting, Bwala wrote: “Today Asari Dokubo visited President Tinubu and after the meeting, he went to the press room to address the press in what capacity I do not know.

“Secondly he made blanket and outlandish claims without specific examples, facts or investigative reports against the Nigerian army without qualification. This is troubling.”