Defunct militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has lambasted Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, over its resumed attacks on pipeline installations in the Niger Delta region.
Avengers which had in August announced a ceasefire to allow window of negotiation with the Federal Government, had on Friday resumed hostility with the blowing up of Bonny 48 inches crude oil Export Line in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,
The spokesman of the rampaging militant group, Mudoch Agbinibo had on Saturday while announcing the attack said it was “just a wake-up call.”
He had said,“This action is a signature to the over-dramatisation of the so-called dialogue and negotiation process on the side of President Muhammadu Buhari and his government.”
“Since, the cessation of hostilities and the commitment of the PAN Niger Delta Elders and stakeholders team, the Nigerian government and her agents are turning the expectations of the Niger Delta to shameful scenes obtainable in Nollywood acts and as well intimidation, blackmails and continuous profiling of Niger Delta sons and daughters. This is only a wake up call; we may not have other way to say it better.”
However, MEND while frowning at the attack described Avengers action as “immature” and “arrogant.”
In a statement by its spokesman, Gbomo Jomo, the former militant group said,“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) dissociates 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.
“MEND also condemns in very strong terms the unstable, destructive and immature behaviour of the Niger Delta Avengers who resume 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 open 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 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.”
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