Ex-Militants Are Jonathan’s Political Thugs, Ignore their Threats, MEND Tells Atiku, Amaechi The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has asked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state and the leadership of the new Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) faction led by Kawu Baraje to ignore threats from ex-militants over their opposition to Bamanga Tukur and President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition. A statement signed by MEND’s spokesman Jomo Gbomo labelled the threatening ex-militants as idle political thugs on the payroll of Jonathan and officials of his administration. According to the statement: “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) urges former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, the New PDP and our brothers and sisters from other parts of Nigeria , to ignore the empty threats and provocative comments from idle political thugs parading themselves as ex- militants, as well as some so-called elders and tribal assemblies of the Niger Delta. “It is the right of any detribalised, honest and qualified Nigerian to aspire for the highest office of the land to bring progress, peace, reconciliation and other dividends of democracy. It is also in order for a performing incumbent to seek a legitimate extension of his/ her tenure in office as long as the peoples vote will count and the bid does not run contrary to any prior agreements reached within their party. MEND believes in honour and integrity. “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is ready to end activities of illegitimate oil merchants, pipeline vandalisation and the unrest in the Niger Delta region when the reason we took up arms is addressed by a listening administration regardless of the part of our great country the president comes from”
Posted on: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 11:28:14 +0000