BEVERLY HILLS, October 14, (THEWILL) – The immediate past president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed as false, an online report which claimed that the he delivered a speech in Texas, United States, where he spoke on the position of the Niger Delta in the agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra.
He pointed out that he could not have delivered a speech in Texas since he had neither travelled to the United States since he left office in 2015, nor sent any representation to any event in the state.
In a statement signed by his media adviser, Mr Ikechukwu Eze, on Friday, the former president described the report as pure fiction aimed at massaging the ego of the writer, and thereafter advised the rumour peddlers to desist from it.
He maintained that the unity of Nigeria is very important and advised that energies should be channeled to productive ways to building a better Nigeria.
The statement reads, “We have just been informed of the text of a speech fabricated in the name of former President Goodluck Jonathan in which he was alleged to have addressed the issue of the place of the Niger Delta in the agitation for Biafra. This is pure fiction which serves no purpose, other than probably massage the ego of the faceless writer.
“The false report which is now spreading in the social media began this way: ‘Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebere Jonathan yesterday delivered a lecture at Texas, United States…’.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Jonathan has neither been to Texas since he left office in 2015, nor sent anybody to represent him at any programme in the U.S. state.
“Our advice to those who engage in this kind of untoward behaviour is to repent and apply their creative energy to productive ends, in line with the efforts to build the nation we all will be proud of.”
Meanwhile, the concorted speech entitled: ‘Why Niger Deltans Do not Want To Be Part Of Biafra’ and credited to Jonathan reads as follows:
I begin this write-up by saying that I mean no ill-thought towards the Biafran struggle or Igbos in general.
What I’ve written here are mainly my personal reflections concerning the Niger Delta, especially with regards to non-Igbo groups and their stake in the Biafran movement which has been rebirthed for some time now. I am not a mouthpiece for the Niger Delta but I believe I’ve been in the Niger Delta long enough to know our problems and our stand. I’ve also interacted with many Niger Deltans to know their stand in the Biafran struggle.
When I use the term Niger Delta, I am referring to the region covering Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states. However, I understand that the region also covers Ondo, Imo, and Abia states. I’m not concerned with the latter because they are either Igbos or Yorubas and have their own struggles. The ethnic groups within my coverage include Urhobo-Isoko, Bini, Esan, Itsekiri, Ijaw-Epie-Ogbia, Ogoni, Afemai, Efik-Annang-Eket-Oron-Ibibio, Ogoja, Ejagham, and other groups in Cross River North. Ikwerre, Ukwuani, Ika, Aniocha, Ogba, and other Igboid groups, are not included. Historically, Biafra covered all the Niger Delta states EXCEPT Delta and Ondo states. This fact must be emphasised.
Pro-Biafrans are welcome to debate and address my issues in a civil manner. I understand that most pro-Biafrans resort to insults when salient issues are addressed.
Please let’s set a good precedence from hereon.
1. Biafra may not be better for Niger Deltans because Niger Deltans may end up living one form of subjugation for another. The argument Igbos have made for their freedom is the desire to be free from Hausa-Yoruba domination. That argument also applies to the average Niger Deltan. Igbo, no doubt, will be the major ethnic group if Biafra is actualised. Ijaws may have a stake due to their numbers. What about the Ogonis, Urhobo-Isokos, Itsekiris, Efiks, etc? Where will they fit in at the national level? The sad reality is that a
