Edwin Clark
Defunct militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, on Monday, disclosed that it will monitor the progress of the negotiation team headed by Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, for six months.
Recall that the former militant group had last week Friday, accepted Clark as the leader of its delegation that will dialogue with the Federal Government.
In a statement by the spokesman of the group, Jomo Gbomo, the former militant group also announced the disbandment of its negotiation team led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia, Aaron Team 2.
According to the statement, “However, MEND shall continue to monitor the pace of progress of Chief Edwin Clark -led team and reserves the right to recall its nominees after six months.”
On the dissolution of its negotiation team, the former separatist group said, “The disbanding became necessary following MEND’s decision to recognise and work with Ijaw National Leader Chief (Dr) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark as the leader of a pan-Niger Delta dialogue and peace initiative.
“We have always advocated that the Niger Delta region must speak with a single voice under a single umbrella body; otherwise the much sought-after peace and development shall elude the region, again.
“Therefore, under the new collaborative arrangement, MEND has nominated Messrs Ledum Mitee, Ibanga Isine and Timipa Jenkins Okponipere Esq., to work alongside Chief (Dr) Clark and other stakeholders.
“Nevertheless, MEND is compelled to categorically warn that, it is not yet uhuru. The Chief Edwin Clark-led new initiative should realize that MEND was already in preliminary talks with the Federal Government as confirmed by President Muhammadu Buhari himself.”
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