The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) on Sunday wrote President Muhammadu Buhari, submitting the final list of its dialogue group, Aaron Team 2.

In the letter signed by its spokeperson, Gomo Jomo, the group announced the inclusion of the leader of the Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact Group, Alfred Diette-Spiff, as its deputy team leader.

It also named its former Commander, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, as representative of Delta State in the dialogue team.

Other members of Aaron Team 2 include: Odein Ajumogobia, team leader, Florence Ita-Giwa, Ledum Mitee, Adolphus Wabara, Ibanga Isine, Alfred Isename and Timipa Okponikpere.

“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), hereby submits the final list of members of the Aaron Team 2 dialogue, peace and development initiative inaugurated by MEND on June 12, 2016 to find sustainable solutions to the Niger Delta crisis,” the letter reads.

It said the team’s leader, Mr. Ajumogobia, has unblemished record, character and integrity and is widely respected throughout the entire Niger Delta region.

Besides these qualities, MEND said the former foreign affairs minister appreciated the problems and challenges facing the region.

“He is therefore our chief negotiator in the proposed dialogue with the Federal Government,” the statement continued.

“HRH King Alfred Papapreye Diette-Spiff was the first military governor of the old Rivers State and is currently, a 1st class traditional ruler in Bayelsa state. He is the Deputy Leader of the Aaron Team as well as the representative of the Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact Group (NDDCG).

“Consequently, the NDDCG, as the name connotes, shall serve as the contact and clearing house for all mushroom and internet-based militant groups in the region; all aggrieved oil-bearing and coastal communities affected by the menace of oil spillage and related environmental challenges. The NDDCG shall also accommodate all repentant Niger Delta activists, elders and tribal assemblies who actively supported the neglect and corruption perpetrated during the era of former President Goodluck Jonathan but who are now ready to join hands with your Government to bring peace and development to the region.

“However, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa from Cross River state shall be representing all Bakassi militant groups and aggrieved communities from that axis of the Niger Delta, who see her as their mother.

“Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara is in the Aaron Team to represent Abia and Imo states. He is widely respected across both states and shall deploy his vast wealth of experience for the benefit of the dialogue, peace and development initiative.

“High Chief Government Ekpemupolo’s inclusion in the final list was principally because of the key role he continues to play in the Niger Delta as a notable ex-militant leader; philanthropist; traditional title holder and mobilizer of amazing capacity. It will therefore be counter-productive if the Federal Government ignored such an individual who may be capable of talking to the militants in the creeks to ceasefire.

“We are very much aware of the pending criminal charges filed against Government Ekpemupolo by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). However, we strongly advice that the charge be suspended until after the conclusion of the Aaron Team assignment. This is to ensure that Mr. Ekpemupolo devotes his time, energy and resources towards the resolution of the current Niger Delta crisis without any fear of arrest, intimidation or harassment.

“Your Excellency, the MEND Aaron Team 2 dialogue and peace initiative would not have materialized if not for the tireless work and support of the Okah brothers – Henry and Charles who are currently in prisons in South Africa and Nigeria, respectively. It is our humble submission that the release of the Okah brothers is a crucial factor in the peaceful resolution of the Niger Delta crisis.

“If Senator Ali Ndume who is still facing a terror charge of sponsoring Boko Haram can be granted bail by the Judiciary and thereby, permitted to participate in nation-building at one of the highest levels as Majority Leader of the Senate; then we see no reason why the Okah brothers who have enormous capacity to help Government bring the Niger Delta crisis to an end are still held in prison.

“Sir, cases abound in history where prisoners were released from prison to help save the nation in times of crises. Examples include the likes of the Hebrew slave Joseph who was released from prison to help save ancient Egypt from famine. Nelson Mandela was also released from prison in 1990 to help restore multi- racial democracy in South Africa in 1994.

“We therefore urge the release of Messrs Henry and Charles Okah similarly as former President Olusegun Obasanjo was released from prison to become President and help to nurture the then nascent democracy in 1999.

“Finally, Your Excellency, the MEND Aaron Team is fully ready to partner the Federal Government to bring peace and development to the Niger Delta region. We therefore urge Government to contact Team Leaders Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, SAN and/or HRH King Alfred Diette-Spiff to flag-off the commencement of the peace process. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”



http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/207061-mend-writes-buhari-names-diette-spiff-tomplolo-others-dialogue-team.html

Attention seekers!
But Govt should have a holistic approach to resolving these persistent issues.
Just doling out money and contracts would not work again.

What is stopping them from fixing ND to be another "Abuja"

I believe dialogue is the only solution to the ND crisis.

But is the government sincere and genuinely ready to hold the bull by the horns

Who knows what might happen . Lemme sha ...........

Ok

Will the fugitive Tompolo come out of hiding?

LOL

the bombings started immediately tompolo was declared wanted by the EFCC...

MEND doesn't have any power and its a militant wing ofthe APC so they ccan't be taken serious.

They need to stand aside because NDA is around and its operations are more complicated than them

These aaron team jokers must have smoked good crack the day they came up with this senseless list of demands!




See reasoning! "Tompolo should be spared from prosecution for the meantime after looting the same governments money and land and empowering criminals because they want him in their team of opportunists!"




Stupidity reigns supreme amongst these people!

chiboyo:
Attention seekers!
But Govt should have a holistic approach to resolving these persistent issues.
Just doling out money and contracts would not work again.

What is stopping them from fixing ND to be another "Abuja"

So you truly believe that these lazy ass folks care a thing about fixing the region? What way have they bettered the region through their own little efforts asides visiting chaos upon the land?

A troublesome person is a troubleson person. There's just no way around it.

There's a joke we make here, "Make the Niger-Delta a country, the Ijaw militants will still wreak havoc on the land, insisting they be made a continent... Declare them a continent, they will insist they be made a planet..." Those guys are the emblem of nuisance! All in a bid to keep lazying about.

Beats me how a person will refuse working paid jobs and instead resort to the creeks, destroying his fatherland instead of helping to build it.

Naso trouble dey take start oh.

Mend & Avengers should negotiate with BLACK MARINE & Military JTF.
As for me FG,I have nothing to negotiate with these criminals fighting for there pockets.

malton:


So you truly believe that these lazy ass folks care a thing about fixing the region? What way have they bettered the region through their own little efforts asides visiting chaos upon the land?

A troublesome person is a troubleson person. There's just no way around it.

There's a joke we make here, "Make the Niger-Delta a country, the Ijaw militants will still wreak havoc on the land, insisting they be made a continent... Declare them a continent, they will insist they be made a planet..." Those guys are the emblem of nuisance! All in a bid to keep lazying about.

Beats me how a person will refuse working paid jobs and instead resort to the creeks, destroying his fatherland instead of helping to build it.

what do you really mean?

they've come to you for dialogue if you like use your trained thugs to repel them.

pharmagba:
Get it right, on behalf of the FGN I am saying no to dialogue
All pipeline bombers are criminals and should be treated as such

By the way change that name from Aaron 2 to Lucifer 1 ( since the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy) and that is what mend has been doing

Tompolo is a wanted criminal O! Who does these people think they are? Suspend his EFCC trial for their assignment? These people are arrogating undue relevance and importance to themselves. In the eyes of Nigeria's they are criminals.

But some people are saying Buratai prosecution should be suspended till after the fight against boko haram because he is doing a good job. I believe this is the same thing.

Get a life

Mend vs NDA

1 X 2

9.6 5.2 1.0

Time for diagolue,I hope that the president will be opened to there needs.

MEND na nonsense up NDA

Have U guys really noticed dat ever since buhari assumed office, they've not been serving foods in dream again? Abi na economy hard reach dat side again?

Ridiculous!

Hmm

the barrels are empty afterall

Peaceful resolution is the way to go. The fg should dialogue with any group in the country that is ready to settle issues peacefully. The stick should be reserved for troublemakers. It's obvious that the Niger delta will gain more from dialogue than violence. Everyone recognizes the enormous problems of nd. So the good people of nd should close ranks by isolating terrorists and opportunists. They should seize the initiative now that the goodwill is there. But the people of nd should focus more on the long term. The future of nd does not depend on oil and gas. I believe that agriculture and tourism present more opportunities for the people in that part of the country.

Why do I feel this is a set up by the FG?

It seems MEND are really serious about putting an end to all the mess happening for some time now over there in the ND. The FG should just dialogue with these people and let peace reign. If the bombings continue its gonna be a lose-lose situation where nobody gain. DIALOGUE IS THE KEY

"Treat all parts of your towel equally because the part that will clean your nyash today might clean your face tommorow"

Buhari please take heed.

on the contrary I think Majority of Nigerians needs to read this.



*"OMAR BANGURA from Sierra Leone has this to tell Nigerians;"*

"I don't think you guys know what you are playing with.
You can call each other names and laugh about it now but when you end up inciting hate here as I read through your posts here and a real civil war starts in your country you will regret what you are doing now.

Your religious and political leaders are trying to divide you between religious lines and you are helping them do that rather than standing up and say we are all Nigerians never mind our tribe, region or religion. That's the only stand that will save your blessed nation.

The foreign powers pushing the government to take certain decisions will abandon you when you start killing one another and reject you from running to their countries so be careful.

Our 11 year war in Sierra Leone was not even based on religious or tribal difference and see what we did to our country.
The worst conflicts are those based on tribal and religious differences. See Central Africa, Bosnia, South Sudan and Rwanda. To have a better knowledge of this, please watch the documentary/movie called _"Hotel Rwanda"_ or _"Sometime in April"._ My heart bleeds when I read what you guys are saying because I know what this will lead to. _*You will be the losers all of you whether Christian, Muslim, igbo, yoruba or hausa.

Stand as one and save your nation together because you have only one Nigeria that has the potential to lead Africa."