The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has issued a press release in response to former President Goodluck Jonathan's statement on MEND in which he denied allegations that he was one of the sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers. In it, the group claims that Mr. Jonathan's failure to address the Niger Delta's challenges led to the formation of MEND.

Read the MEND press release below:

1. 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).

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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 MEND leaders 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).

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

JOMO GBOMO

blueto:
A biased news coming from a biased source, posted by a nairaland biased OP who highlighted all vituperative phrases against Jonathan with inimical, libelous intentions.
One thing about Jonathan is that he always gets vindicated, so when will Zombies learn?

sparrowkid:

[s]
Say amen to this prayer:

May I lose all that I cherish in this life the day I believe any story from this source or use this same source as basis for any attack on any of my perceived enemies. [/s]

waleadex:
No man can ever be perfect no matter his position. GEJ for I care could be bad for the whole of his tenure but that one day job he did by handing over to PMB peacefully should keep earning him an eternal knowledge.

waleadex:
[s]No man can ever be perfect no matter his position. GEJ for I care could be bad for the whole of his tenure but that one day job he did by handing over to PMB peacefully should keep earning him an eternal knowledge.[/s]

feldido:
MEND's replies shows they are PRO APC and are behind the RNDA,
My question is, what did GEJ do to deserve assassination?
Remember he just got into power.

GEJ too needs to tell us what he has with Mend that they keep Taunting him.

blueto:
A biased news coming from a biased source, posted by a nairaland biased OP who highlighted all vituperative phrases against Jonathan with inimical, libelous intentions.

Jonathan left an empty treasury
Jonathan left only $26
Jonathan did not save for the rainy day
Jonathan bought no weapons
Jonathan bought substandard weapons
Jonathan traveled to see Obama with 545 delegates while Buhari went with 33
Jonathan is responsible for economic recession
Jonathan built no road
Jonathan covered economic recession during his regime
Jonathan invented Boko Haram to reduce Northern population
Jonathan is the Grand Patron of NDA

One thing about Jonathan is that he always gets vindicated, so when will Zombies learn?

sparrowkid:


Say amen to this prayer:

May I lose all that I cherish in this life the day I believe any story from this source or use this same source as basis for any attack on any of my perceived enemies.

policy12:
Neighbors on nairaland av u blame Gej today?

RZArecta:
Who or what is MEND right now ? The top hierarchy of this group apart from Henry Okah who is in a South African jail and Tompolo who is on the run are solidly behind this APC led govt and are being "blessed" with pipeline security contracts in the Niger Delta region. MEND as we know it no longer exists as they're all beneficiaries of late president Yar'Adua amnesty package as generals, they jumped ship immediately Gej lost his election and pledged allegiance to Buhari. They've been used to commit mayhem by the presidency in ND states especially during election periods (Bayelsa as a case study) so under what clear non partisan authority are they talking ? I laugh

vedaxcool:


[s]Being a tribal bigot means you will rearly be able to make sensible statement even if your life depended on it[/s].