The Movement
for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and Ijaw leader, Chief
Edwin Clark, yesterday condemned in strong terms, the renewed
hostilities by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
The group at the weekend claimed responsibility for the bombing of Bonny pipeline in Rivers State.
MEND also
dissociated itself from the ‘holier than thou’ and arrogant attitude of
the Pan-Niger Delta Group over the proposed Niger Delta Summit convened
by the federal government.
In a
statement by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, MEND said the renewed
hostilities by the NDA was unstable, destructive and stemmed from an
immature behaviour.
The
statement read: “MEND also condemns in very strong terms the unstable,
destructive and immature behaviour of the NDA which resumed hostilities
at the slightest lame excuse.
“We believe
that the right approach would have been to attend this summit as a
precursor to future intensive interactions and dialogue with government.
A boycott at this stage, in our opinion was rather hasty.
“Considering
that this government has been opened to the subject of dialogue with a
people whose majority sold their birth rights for monthly stipends under
a fraudulent amnesty programme, whose elders, traditional rulers,
tribal assemblies, political class, activists and clergy turned a blind
eye and kept mute during the six years of plenty and unmitigated
corruption and looting while their own son and daughter were at the
helm.
“The
Pan-Niger Delta Group on behalf of the Niger Delta people should go to
the summit in shame and sober reflection while singing the praise of
President Muhammadu Buhari like the women of Israel sang in praise of
David.
“All we are
demanding from the present administration today are valid issues during
the past administration of a son of the soil Dr. Goodluck Jonathan,
which were never seen as urgent during his tenure to be addressed.
“MEND will
remain in the Pan-Niger Delta Group in spite of the presence of some
vultures whose names have sprung up from nowhere to our surprise.
“We use this
opportunity to notify the public that the former secretary of the
disbanded MEND AARON TEAM 2, Mr. Timipa Jenkins Okponipere, who was
named alongside Messrs. Ledum Mitee and Ibanga Isine to represent the
group in the Chief Clark-led Pan-Niger Delta Group has been dropped due
to differences that are in complete variance with the MEND principles
which frowns on corruption by public officials and their spouses and
places premium on integrity.”
On his part,
Clark berated members of the NDA, maintaining that there was no
justification for last Friday’s attack on Bonny trunklines.
He therefore condemned the bombing when the 60 days ceasefire ultimatum had not expired.
Clark, who
is the leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Coastal States Stakeholders’
Consultative Forum, noted that there was no justification for the
renewed bombing against the backdrop that the 60-day cessation of
hostilities as put together by the forum had not elapsed.
The elder
statesman, in a statement issued in Abuja, condemned in totality the
bombing of Bonny trunkline which he described as ill-motivated and
advised the militant group to put a stop to such attack.
“It has come
to the attention of the Niger Delta Royal fathers, elders and leaders
of thought that the NDA have claimed responsibility for the bombing of
the Bonny Export (48) inch pipeline on Friday, September 23, 2016.
”We condemn
in totality this ill- motivated and ill- advised rampaging in the
bombing by the NDA. Even though the federal government has not
constituted its negotiating team as articulated by the Pan-Niger
Delta Coastal States Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum, the 60-day
cessation of hostilities has not elapsed. Therefore, there was no
justification for further bombing, such as the one that took place last
Friday.
“We repeat our appeal which was contained in our collective
response to the summit on the Niger Delta convened by the office of the
vice president published at page eight of Leadership Newspaper of
Saturday, September 24, 2016, and at page 9 of Saturday Vanguard of
September 24, 2016 that “all the armed agitators to continue with the
cessation of hostilities and remain calm and peaceful, even in the face
of obvious provocation. We shall maintain this position,” he added.
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