The Movement for the Movement for
the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has replied Goodluck Jonathan and
insisted he is responsible for the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers.
The Avengers has claimed
responsibility for series of bombing of oil and gas pipelines in the region but
during the weekend, a splinter group, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers released a
list of its alleged sponsors and named the former president as one of them.
Jonathan
through his media aide denied the accusation and said it was plat of a plot to
assassinate him. According to Sahara Reporters MEND in a reply to Jonathan
insisted that he was responsible for the formation of the infamous group by
failing to deal with them when he had the opportunity. MEND exonerated
President Muhammadu Buhari of any wrong doing. Read the full statement below:
The
attention of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has
been drawn to a statement issued by one Ikechukwu Eze, on behalf of former
President Goodluck Jonathan purporting to dissociate the former President from
the allegation leveled against him by the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA)
that, the former President was the Grand Patron of the Niger Delta Avengers
(NDA).
With all
due respect, the entire statement was deeply provocative and embarrassingly
misconceived as it woefully failed to address the core the issue of whether or
not; the former President was indeed, the Grand Patron of the NDA. Rather, the
statement employed diversionary Tactics which dwelt extensively on sour grapes!
Any follower of events in Nigeria and the Niger Delta who was privileged to
read the statement released by Mr. Jonathan would immediately observe that the
former President had a score to settle with the Okah brothers as well as with
MEND who have since May 30, 2014, stopped attacks on Nigeria’s oil and gas
assets; and are currently engaged in dialogue with the Federal Government to
find sustainable ways and means of ending the festering Niger Delta crises
which were exacerbated by the former President’s ineptitude, incompetence and
corruption during the 6years he governed the country.
Indeed,
the problem in the Niger Delta today has nothing to do with the current
Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Far from it! The problem is
simply, the failure of Mr. Jonathan to address the root issues confronting the
region when he was at the helm. Even though he was from the impoverished region;
and had, by his own admission in numerous electioneering campaigns, experienced
the utter poverty and abject neglect of the region foisted by successive
Nigerian Governments and the International Oil Companies since the discovery of
oil in 1958 at Oloibiri (a few meters away from his native Otuoke) in Bayelsa
state, Mr. Jonathan disappointingly frittered away the opportunity to rescue
his people when the Nigerian Presidency fortuitously landed on his laps,
virtually on a platter of gold.
For 6
whole years, Mr. Jonathan was busy drinking, making merry and generally chasing
shadows at the State House. Such a fellow deserves to be ostracized from the
assembly of reasonable men; because the Nigerian Presidency might never
comeback to the Niger Delta region as cheap as it came to Mr. Jonathan;
perhaps, in the next 100 years. Lest we forget, MEND was at the forefront of
the armed struggle back in 2006/2007 which forced the then Government of
President Olusegun Obasanjo to consider the option of drafting an Ijaw into the
mainstream of Nigerian politics.
That was
how the perpetually timid and naïve Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan became Vice
President and later, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. When he
assumed the reins as President, he did the unthinkable; he tracked down
perceived MENDleaders and promptly got them imprisoned on a trumped-up charge
of attempt to assassinate him. Up until today, Mr. Jonathan is still suffering
from an assassination paranoia complex (APC). Secondly, a substantial portion
of Mr. Jonathan’s statement, unfortunately, dwelt on judicial matters which are
pending in various courts in Nigeria and South Africa.
For instance ,Mr. Henry Okah’s Appeal in South
Africa’s Supreme Court is due for Hearing this August; while his brother, Charles’
ongoing trial in Nigeria is pending before Hon. Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the
Federal High Court in Abuja. The former President’s statement was therefore,
most highly contemptuous, injurious to the credit of MEND and the Okah
brothers; and, above all, prejudicial to the eventual outcome of the ongoing
trials in South African and Nigerian courts, respectively.
Consequently,
both brothers shall, on account of the former President’s prejudicial
statement, institute legal action against him in South Africa and Nigeria
within 60 days, commencing from today, August 9, 2016. Accordingly, they have
briefed their respective Solicitors to formally engage the former President in
litigation.
Back to the core issue. MEND cannot hold brief for the RNDA who pointedly
accused Mr. Jonathan of complicity in fueling the ongoing Niger Delta crisis
;and patronizing the NDA, apparently for political reasons.
We are
however ,quick to point out the fact that, the RNDA has merely vindicated
MEND’s belief and conviction that, the former President and his cronies who
lost the 2015 Presidential election were using the illegal and treasonable NDA
platform to destabilize President Buhari’s Government. 9. Finally, MEND is
committed to working with the current Administration to bring peace, stability
and development to the Niger Delta region. The process has since commenced with
the constitution of the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT-MEND AARON TEAM 2, Dialogue, Peace
and Development Initiative. Between August 22, 2016 and October 7, 2016 the
AaronTeam shall embark on a tour of the Niger Delta region. The proposed tour
is code-named “OPERATION MOSES.”
The key
focus of the tour is to persuade militants to ceasefire and support President
Muhammadu Buhari in his determined and sincere effort to develop the region.
The tour shall also help to boost Nigeria’s oil production capacity as well as
improve host community relations with oil and gas companies in the country.
Meanwhile, Chief Ayiri Emami has urged President Buhari to critically
investigate Goodluck Jonathan and other persons named as sponsors of Niger
Delta Avengers.
He said:
“The revelation by the splinter group of Niger Delta Avengers about the
sponsors of Niger Delta Avengers has vindicated my earlier position that some
corrupt politicians running away from justice are the brains behind the
criminal group.” “Nigerians should not take the report by Saharareporters with
a pinch of salt and President Muhammadu Buhari should ensure that the fresh
revelation is properly investigated with a view to bringing all those behind
the economic and political sabotage to book.
“I say so emphatically because these failed and
corrupt politicians are determined to bring down the economy of Nigeria and
rubbish the President Buhari’s administration before gullible Nigerians.”
