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Tag: MEND

  • MEND threatens to resume hostilities over lawmakers’ salaries

    MEND threatens to resume hostilities over lawmakers’ salaries

    The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has threatened to resume hostilities to protest National Assembly members’ jumbo salaries and allowances.

    MEND in an email statement issued by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, said it observed with disgust, the brazing disregard for the feelings of the change-seeking masses by the “very selfish” members of the 8th National Assembly.

    The group said: “These wicked individuals appropriate to themselves huge and absurd salaries and allowances at the expense of the millions of hapless Nigerians, who have not been paid for months, their salaries, pensions and other benefits they deserve.

    “The Niger Delta region where the bulk of revenue that sustains the nation comes from, continues to suffer neglect, environmental degradation and lack, made worse by the very corrupt and visionless past government of Goodluck Jonathan and his cronies, some of who still shamelessly parade themselves on national television and other media platforms as ‘Niger Delta Activists.’

    “Nigerians refuse to tolerate this ostentatious lifestyle of our lawmakers, whose main objective, it seems, is to enrich themselves and carelessly spend scarce resources. The Niger Delta people refuse to pamper and cater for the needs of these thieving Assembly rogues to their detriment.

    “If the lawmakers refuse to make the necessary adjustments needed to accompany the needs of the masses and the Niger Delta region, it may lead to the resumption of hostilities.”

    MEND also asked Nigerians to hold the members of the 8th National Assembly responsible, if its fighters resume hostilities, declaring that: “enough is enough.”

  • Buhari: Nigerians have made right choice – MEND

    Buhari: Nigerians have made right choice – MEND

    The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has stated that Nigerians made the right choice in General Muhammadu Buhari as the President-elect.

    MEND in an online statement on Wednesday by its Spokesperson , Jomo Gbomo, noted that Nigerians had spoken through their votes.

    The militant group said: “MEND extends our heartfelt congratulations to President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, on his victory in the 2015 presidential election.
    “The Nigerian people have spoken and elected General Muhammadu Buhari to be the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In doing so, we have not only made the right choice of a new leadership, we have also reaffirmed the strength of our democracy.

    “President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari’s message of hope, freedom and opportunity resonates with our group, as it does with the Nigerian people. In these difficult times, with the economic crisis and security challenges, we are confident that under your leadership, Nigeria will once again regain its peace and unity.

    “MEND also wishes to commend President Goodluck Jonathan for his outstanding show of statesmanship in conceding defeat and setting precedence, as the first-ever incumbent Nigerian President to be defeated and concede defeat, without any interference.”

    The Niger Delta freedom fighters prayed that the Lord would grant Buhari and all who would serve with him wisdom, strength and compassion in the coming years.

  • ‘Jonathan not competent to seek re-election’

    ‘Jonathan not competent to seek re-election’

    •Support for Buhari  •Ex-militants get knocks

    President Goodluck Jonathan came under knocks yesterday when a body, the Anambra Group for Buhari (AIG 4 Buhari), said he was incompetent to seek re-election.

    It described the ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka-Tompolo) and Alhaji Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo as insensitive and irresponsible for threatening war if Jonathan lost.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Awka, Anambra State, the group’s leader, Nicholas Emeka Asuzu and Deputy Chairman, Jude Afunaya, alleged that the Boko Haram insurgency was sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government.

    They said Nigerians should not be fooled by Jonathan’s claims of being part of Ndigbo, by merely bearing Igbo names.

    The body comprising  lawyers and independent persons with no religious, ethnic or political affiliation, said Ndigbo should stop whipping up sentiments and vote the right candidate.

    “Calling General Muhammadu Buhari a Boko Haram is giving a dog a bad name to hang it. The real Boko Haram people are Jonathan and PDP members.”

    The group blamed security operatives for allowing ex-militants to threaten Nigerians, adding: “If Jonathan is not part of their deal, why has he not taken any action on the issue?”

    It said in a statement: “Our objective is to make the voices of Anambra people to be heard in the next political dispensation. We want Anambra people not to be misled by sentiments and selfish political actors in making their choice between the two major gladiators in the presidential election, President Jonathan of the PDP and General Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “In 2011, the good people of Anambra State supported Jonathan with great expectations.

    “Anambra gave the highest votes to the President, more than other states in the Southeast and Southsouth, except Rivers State.

    “Despite the unprecedented support, what have we got from President Jonathan in the last six years? Broken and unfulfilled promises.

    “The President on February 27, 2011 in Anambra State, while seeking people’s  votes, said: ‘I do not make empty promises in my campaign because whatever I promise to do, I had already carried out adequate study to make sure I can accomplish it in the next four years’.

    “He promised to build major roads, which link Anambra with neighbouring states, complete the aerodynamic survey of gas in the Anambra River Basin, complete Onitsha Inland Port, carry out the dredging of the River Niger and ensure uninterrupted power supply to the people and manufacturers. But he has not fulfilled his promises.

    “Prof Chukwuma Soludo, one of our illustrious sons, said recently that this administration has presided over the biggest oil boom ever recorded in the history of Nigeria and not one per cent has been added to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the citizens.

    “This is the only government in our history where rapidly increasing government expenditure was associated with increase in poverty.

    “This is the time to take our destinies in our hands. This is the time to join the clamour for a change. Let us open our eyes and refuse to be deceived.

    “It was said by our great leader, the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu that ‘if you fool me once, you are the fool, but if you fool me again, I am the fool’. Ndi Anambra, are we going to allow ourselves to be fooled again?

    “The answer is NO, we will not. The time for change is now. Gen. Buhari may not be the perfect candidate, but he deserves our votes under the present circumstances. Let us try Gen. Buhari since President Jonathan has failed us.”

     

  • Pro-Jonathan ex-militants get MEND’S ultimatum to retrace steps

    The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has given some ex-militant “Generals” backing President Goodluck Jonathan a seven-day ultimatum to retrace their steps and support the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to change Nigeria.

    The group also indicated that it was set to launch “Hurricane No Return,” urging the former warlords to watch their back.

    MEND in an online statement issued on Thursday through its Spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, declared that there was no going back on its support for Buhari.

    It condemned the “empty musings” by some of their “hungry compatriots,” who were part of the struggle for the liberation of the Niger Delta, over its declaration of support for Buhari.

    MEND said: “Our decision to support Buhari is total and final. That is what the likes of Gen. Wilson and Gen. Ogunboss should know. They can eat from Goodluck’s table for all we care. But they should also watch their back.

    “They may not have realised the consequences of their action today. That is why we are giving them seven days to retrace their steps, reject Goodluck Jonathan and come to where they are supposed to belong. As we get ready to launch Hurricane No Return, we are urging them to repent and join the train for change. It will be in their best interest to stop their tirade and advise themselves properly. Otherwise, they will regret their actions.

    “Our mission is change. It does not matter who will bring the change. If Buhari is the man that can come with the change that Nigerians need, so be it. He has our support. We will continue to support him. You will hear from us on this matter again, soon.”

    The group also stated that it was aware that there were some bad eggs in its fold, who were ready to eat today and sell their future, because of the morsel of porridge they were getting from their benefactors.

  • Making a MEND

    Hitherto comatose, the shadowy Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has resurrected and landed feet first in the 2015 campaigns. In Lagos, Jonathan disclosed that the militant group twice tried to assassinate him.

    The group’s notoriety scaled new heights October 1, 2010 when its agents were implicated in bomb blasts that rocked Abuja. MEND took responsibility for the incident which claimed 16 lives. But surprisingly a day after President Jonathan said the government knew the persons who masterminded the bomb blasts, and that they were terrorists and NOT (MEND) as was widely speculated.

    Speaking at a colloquim organised by the ECOWAS Parliament he said: “We know the persons behind the terrorist attacks on the nation. We know they used an organisation that operates in the Niger Delta called MEND as a front, but we are aware that MEND is not a terrorist organisation.”

    Fast forward four years and the same MEND that is ‘not a terrorist organisation’ endorses Buhari for president and all hell breaks loose. Whatever happened to the clean bill of health given to the organization in 2010? Or is this another case of selective amnesia?

  • Alleged assassination plot: MEND fires back at Jonathan, says President lied

    Alleged assassination plot: MEND fires back at Jonathan, says President lied

    The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has denied planning to assassinate President Goodluck Jonathan, accusing the President telling “bare-faced lie” against the group.

    It also described the President’s Thursday campaign speech in Lagos as the most outrageous and ridiculous by any President.

    Addressing a campaign rally in Lagos on Thursday, President Jonathan had said that he did not expect the group to support his candidacy because “some people procured MEND in 2010 to assassinate me,” adding that the group’s leader, Henry Okah, is in jail in South Africa.

    But MEND, in an online statement by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, yesterday insisted that its endorsement of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, for the February 14 election, had nothing to do with its leader, Henry Okah, who is serving a jail term in a South African prison.

    The group said it was unfortunate that President Jonathan would openly accuse Okah, an indigene of Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the home town of a former Bayelsa State governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, of being paid to assassinate him.

    The militant group said: “Mr. President, MEND says thank you for vindicating every word in our recent statement on the endorsement of General Muhammadu Buhari, and for also solidifying your status as a clueless, inept and bare-faced liar.

    “MEND will like to state it clearly that our endorsement of the APC’s presidential candidate has absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Henry Okah. We challenge Mr. President to come out and reveal to the nation, the names of the ‘persons’ he claims paid Mr. Henry Okah to ‘assassinate’ him.

    “Goodluck Jonathan should also explain why these ‘persons,’ as he obviously knows who they are, were not arrested, tried and convicted.

    “Nigerians may recall that prior to the bomb blasts of October 1, 2010, MEND issued a warning of an impending attack on Eagles Square, Abuja, where we also advised the public to steer clear of any parked vehicles to avert any casualties.

    “These warnings were ignored by the Nigerian security agencies, hence the unfortunate and regrettable casualties.

    “If, as Goodluck Jonathan claimed, he was a target of an ‘assassination’ attempt, why did we issue a prior warning? Where in this world would an assassin warn their target in advance of an attempt on their life?

    “This false allegation by Goodluck Jonathan further confirms our earlier assertion of how he takes Nigerians for stupid, as he seems to have forgotten how he openly came out to absolve MEND of any involvement in the attack.

    “Rather than address his administration’s failures, he (President Jonathan) chose to descend so low, by using a very cheap, bare-faced lie to get sympathy. Is this the kind of president the country wants to be stuck with for another four years of misery?”

    MEND also stated that President Jonathan had finally resorted to cheap blackmail on the national dialogue report by urging Nigerians to vote for him as a condition for implementing the report in spite of all the billions of naira spent on the “jamboree”.

    It described the President’s position as a blatant insult.

    MEND admonished Nigerians to use the power of their votes in securing the great country back from the claws of President Jonathan’s corrupt and inept government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

  • Jonathan’s campaign speech most outrageous, ridiculous – MEND

    Jonathan’s campaign speech most outrageous, ridiculous – MEND

    … Says, Buhari‘s endorsement has nothing to do with Henry Okah

    The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has denied planning to assassinate President Goodluck Jonathan, describing his Thursday’s campaign speech in Lagos as the most outrageous and ridiculous by any president.

    The group insisted that its endorsement of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, for the February 14 election, had absolutely nothing to do with its leader, Henry Okah, who is serving jail term in a South African prison.

    MEND in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, declared that it was really unfortunate for President Jonathan to have openly accused Okah, an indigene of Amassoma in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State, the hometown of a former Bayelsa Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, of being paid to assassinate him.

    It said: “Mr. President (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan), the MEND says thank you for vindicating every words in our recent statement, endorsing Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and for also solidifying your status as a clueless, inept and bare-faced lair.

    “MEND will like to state it clearly that our endorsement of the APC’s presidential candidate has absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Henry Okah. We challenge Mr. President to come out and reveal to the nation, the names of the ‘persons’ he claims paid Mr. Henry Okah to ‘assassinate’ him.

    “Goodluck Jonathan should also explain why these ‘persons,’ as he obviously knows who they are, were not arrested, tried and convicted. Nigerians may recall that prior to the bomb blasts of October 1, 2010, MEND issued a warning of an impending attack on Eagle Square, Abuja, where we also advised the public to steer clear of any parked vehicles, to avert any casualties. These warnings were ignored by the Nigerian security agencies. Hence the unfortunate and regrettable casualties.

    “If as Goodluck Jonathan claimed, that he was a target of an ‘assassination’ attempt, why did we issue a prior warning? Where in this world would an assassin warn their target in advance of an attempt on their life?

    “This false allegation by Goodluck Jonathan further confirms our earlier assertion of how he takes Nigerians for stupid, as he seems to have forgotten how he openly came out to absolve MEND of any involvement in the attack.

    “Rather than address his administration’s failures, he (President Jonathan) chose to descend so low, by using a very cheap bare-faced lie to get sympathy. Is this the kind of President the country wants to be stuck with for another four years of misery?”

  • Jonathan to Buhari: Don’t rely on MEND’s endorsement

    Jonathan to Buhari: Don’t rely on MEND’s endorsement

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday maintained that the people of the Niger Delta are with him on the forthcoming Presidential election.

    He was reacting to the statement by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) endorsing the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Jonathan cautioned Buhari not to rely on such endorsement.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati reads: “We have noted with amusement, the vituperations against President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan by the renegade faction of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) headed by the convicted terrorist, Henry Okah in a statement issued to endorse the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    “While we thank all people of the Niger Delta, including the former militants whom MEND claims to represent who have already disassociated themselves from the statement issued by the faceless Jomo Gbomo and reaffirmed their unflinching support for President Jonathan’s re-election, we will like to state that the latest assault on the President by Henry Okah and his stooges did not come as a surprise to us at all.

    “It was very much to be expected, coming as it did from an individual and group who have never hidden their vengeful personal animosity against the President and who have even gone to the extent of launching murderous assaults on venues at which the President was present on two occasions.

    “It is most regrettable indeed that rather than show remorse for the terrorist acts against his fatherland for which he is now rightly serving a term of imprisonment in South Africa, Henry Okah continues to pursue a pointless personal vendetta against President Jonathan who continues to advance and protect the interests of the people of the Niger Delta which Okah and his group threatened with their misguided actions.”

    It added: “The vituperations against President Jonathan in the MEND statement endorsing Gen. Buhari are mischievous, baseless and deliberately styled to denigrate the good works of the President.”

    The statement noted that President Jonathan played a significant role in ending the militancy and insurgency in the Niger Delta.

    It said that under Jonathan the destruction of oil facilities and the incessant kidnapping and killing of expatriates in the Niger Delta waterways have become a thing of the past.

    “The attempt by Jomo Gbomo’s MEND to rewrite history by tarnishing the person of President Jonathan for selfish, pecuniary and political gains will amount to an exercise in futility.”

    “All patriotic and right-thinking Nigerians must consider an endorsement from a convicted criminal and his group who harbor evil intentions against the unity and progress of their country as a poisoned chalice.

    “President Jonathan would never have accepted such an endorsement from terrorists and renegades.

    “The President therefore advises Gen. Buhari not to place any stock on his purported endorsement by the renegade faction of MEND which is led by a convicted and unrepentant terrorist with whom no leader who truly means well for Nigeria should be associated,” it stated.

  • Buhari: MEND blasts Metuh, PDP, IYC

    Buhari: MEND blasts Metuh, PDP, IYC

    … Denies link with APC

    The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has described recent attempt by the Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, to suggest a relationship between it and the All Progressives’ Congress as irresponsible and callous act.

    Metuh had on Wednesday while reacting to MEND’s announcement of support for the presidential candidate of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, demanded that the opposition party declared the nature of its relationship with the militant group, a query regarded by some as another attempt by the ruling party to frame the opposition and its presidential candidate as those in support of violence.

    The MEND, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, on Wednesday, also took a swipe at the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) for suggesting in a press statement by its spokesman, Eric Omare, that it was a ghost organisation, describing the youths’ body as “a mere tribal assembly and political praise singers.”

    The group wondered what happened within six months after the same IYC commended it for declaring a cease fire.

    But responding to the MEND’s statement, IYC’s spokesman, Omare, maintained his organisation’s position, pointing out that any group involved in guerrilla warfare can never be seen as having any electoral value, unlike the ex-militant leaders who recently expressed support for President Goodluck Jonathan.

    IYC said, “These are known men, whom you have always known in person and they held their meeting in Akwa Ibom State.

    “Who is Jomo Gbomo, let him come out and declare his support?”

    However, the MEND, which also encouraged Nigerians to disregard recent threats by some ex-militant leaders, who had declared their support for President Jonathan, denied any link or relationship with the APC, stating that its support for Buhari was because of his capabilities, measured against the failures so far witnessed under the Jonathan administration.

    “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) views the recent question and statement credited to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, as very callous and irresponsible. This question: “Explain your connections with MEND,” further confirms and vindicates our views about Goodluck Jonathan, his inept government and the PDP.

    “MEND strongly denies any links with the All Progressive Congress (APC) and has never been approached for anything, at any point in time, by the party, as pettily alleged by Olisa Metuh.

    “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) stands strongly by our endorsement and full support of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the man to lead the country out of its present calamitous state in the hands of Goodluck Jonathan.

    “MEND finds it laughable the recent statement by Mr. Eric Omare, the Publicity Secretary of a mere tribal assembly and political praise singers, known as the Ijaw Youth Council, stating that ‘MEND is a ghost.’ We clearly understand their frustrations at our stance as it obviously came as a shock to them.

    “Nigerians should ask this man (Eric Omare), if he was referring to ‘ghosts’ when he lauded MEND for declaring a temporary ceasefire six months ago.

    “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) once more, urges Nigerians to ignore the empty threats of this so-called ‘ex-agitators’ and the Ijaw Youth Council. Their reckless utterances only ridicule and confirm the colossal failure of the ‘Amnesty Programme.’ We advise the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to use their idle time in telling and showing Nigerians and Niger Deltans what the government of Goodluck Jonathan has done or achieved in Nigeria and the region in the last six years in office, apart from giving them handouts called ‘Monthly Stipends,” the statement said.

     

  • MEND’s adoption of Buhari inconsequential – Ijaw youths

    Ijaw youths on Wednesday dismissed the endorsement of the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), describing it as inconsequential.

    The youths under the aegis of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Worldwide, said Buhari’s adoption by a non-existent group was of no electoral value.

    The group in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Mr. Eric Omare, said MEND was an empty organisation since it was disbanded after its members and former agitators accepted amnesty.

    Omare said all the ex-agitators from the region were behind the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The statement said, “The adoption of Gen. Buhari by the present MEND is inconsequential and of no electoral value as election is won by votes cast by physical and verifiable human beings.

    “The real Niger-Delta freedom fighters are in support of President Jonathan’s second term ambition as demonstrated in the massive rally they held in his support at Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State in November 2014 under the leadership of Alhaji Asari Dokubo, Pastor Reuben and others.

    “Furthermore, the Niger-Delta people are solidly behind President Jonathan’s re-election bid as we believe that he has performed creditably during his first term and deserves a second term in office.

    “The injustice against the people of the Niger-Delta which led to the agitation was foisted on them through the successive administration of people from the born to rule clan of Gen. Buhari.

    “Hence, it is a contradiction for the so called MEND which claimed to be fighting for the Niger-Delta region to adopt the continuation of the injustice against the Niger-Delta region.”