MEND
has stand by its allegation that Goodluck Jonathan is responsible for the
Avengers – The group accused the former president of failing to act when
necessary – It exonerated President Buhari of any wrong-doing 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. READ ALSO: Okah is after
my life – Goodluck Jonathan cries out 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. READ ALSO: Niger Delta
group confirms Jonathan’s meeting with militants 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.
READ ALSO: Jonathan denies sponsoring Niger Delta Avengers 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.”
MEND has stand by its
allegation that Goodluck Jonathan is responsible for the Avengers
– The group accused the former president of failing to act when
necessary
– It exonerated President Buhari of any wrong-doing
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.
READ ALSO: Okah is after my life – Goodluck Jonathan cries out
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.
READ ALSO: Niger Delta group confirms Jonathan’s meeting with militants
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.
READ ALSO: Jonathan denies sponsoring Niger Delta Avengers
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.”
Read more: https://www.naij.com/922447-breaking-mend-insists-jonathan-responsible-avengers-provides-evidence.html
Read more: https://www.naij.com/922447-breaking-mend-insists-jonathan-responsible-avengers-provides-evidence.html
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