The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari on his pledge not to resort to the use of force to stop the militancy in the Niger Delta, noting that the pledge was one of the critical and strategic concessions it has so far secured from the Federal Government in the ongoing preliminary talks to find sustainable solutions to the current Niger Delta crisis.
The group therefore called on all aggrieved militant groups in the Niger Delta to remain calm and patient and, more importantly, refrain from attacks on oil installations; as their grievances shall be comprehensively and adequately addressed by the Buhari administration.
This was contained in a statement issued last night by MEND spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, which hailed the visit of the United States of America Secretary of State John Kerry to Nigeria, stressing that President Buhari’s pledge to the Secretary of State is one of the terms and conditions of the ongoing dialogue with agitators in the region.
While commending Buhari for his pledge, the group said: “We therefore use this opportunity to sincerely and immensely thank President Buhari for respecting one of the terms and conditions of the ongoing dialogue. By virtue of the public pledge, the President has truly, shown the entire world that he is a statesman who means well for the Niger Delta region.
“Consequently, we also use this opportunity to urge all aggrieved militant groups in the region, including but not limited to the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) the Niger Delta Greenland and Justice Mandate (NDGJM) to remain calm and patient and, more importantly, refrain from attacks on oil installations; as their grievances shall be comprehensively and adequately addressed by the Buhari Administration.
“Regarding Chief Clark’s invitation, MEND is considering dispatching a member of the Aaron Team to meet him. The public shall be duly informed about the outcome of the meeting,” the statement added.
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