BEVERLY HILLS, June 13, (THEWILL) – Defunct militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND has named a team to dialogue with the Federal Government over incessant pipeline attacks by militant groups in oil rich Niger Delta region.
MEND said that it decided to dialogue with the Federal Government on the immediate, medium and long-term future of the Niger Delta region following useful exploratory discussions held with high ranking officials of the current administration.
While clarifying that members of the MEND Aaron Team 2 are by no means members of MEND, the group said the team is made up of patriotic and selfless men and women of proven track record, integrity and character; and drawn from different parts of the Niger Delta region.
In a statement issued on Sunday night by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, MEND however urged members of rampaging militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, to sheathe their sword and join the negotiation table with the Federal Government.
MEND urged the NDA to look beyond attacks on oil instructions in pursuing the “Niger Delta struggle,” saying that if they were actually pursuing a cause to avenge the injustice done to the Niger Delta region; they should ceasefire and join the table of negotiation with the Federal Government “the Niger Delta struggle is hijacked, once again, by selfish interests for their own personal aggrandizement”.
The statement read; “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) had on countless occasions within the past 10 years of the group’s existence, resorted to taking up arms against the Nigerian state and the International Oil Companies with a view to bringing to national and international attention, the pitiable paradox of the Niger Delta region.
“152 years after Otto Von Bismarck’s famous remark that, ” the great questions of the time will be decided, not by speeches and resolutions, but by iron and blood,” the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) precisely at 00:00 hours on May 30, 2014; in response to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Democracy Day speech of the previous day, unilaterally declared a ceasefire of hostilities against Nigeria’s key economic and strategic interests.
“Evidently, the ceasefire was an indication of the group’s belief that, in this present age and time, “iron and blood” might only become fashionable tools in settling questions when dialogue and diplomacy fail.
“Our message to the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is simple: The Niger Delta struggle is beyond attacks on oil installations. Indeed, prior to the MEND ceasefire; the group had, among numerous daring attacks, on Thursday June 19, 2008 successfully carried out the spectacular attack on Royal Dutch Shell’s offshore Bonga oilfield which is located at a whooping distance of 120 kilometres (75miles) south-west of the Niger Delta.
“However, with the benevolent benefit of hindsight, the group realised that, after the initial euphoria of each successful attack, the gargantuan problems which confront our region; including environmental pollution and political corruption, increased geometrically.
“If indeed your cause is to avenge the injustice done to the Niger Delta region; then, we urge you to ceasefire and join us to the table of negotiation with the Federal Government; otherwise, the Niger Delta struggle shall be hijacked, once again, by selfish interests for their own personal aggrandizement.
“One such example is the recent purported NDA demand made through the region’s governors that the Federal Government should drop charges of corruption against certain individuals and politicians from the region. This absurd and ridiculous demand, to say the least, is far removed from the Niger Delta struggle.
“Following useful exploratory discussions held with high ranking officials of the current administration, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has constituted ‘Aaron Team 2’ to dialogue with the Federal Government on the immediate, medium and long-term future of the Niger Delta region.
“Made up of patriotic and selfless men and women of proven track record, integrity and character; and drawn from different parts of the Niger Delta region, members of the MEND Aaron Team 2 are by no means members of MEND.
“The provisional list of members of the Team who have already accepted to serve include:
1. Henry Odein Ajumogobia SAN (Rivers)
2. Bismark Rewane (Delta)
3. Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa (Cross River)
4. Timipa Jenkins Okponipere (Bayelsa)
5. Ibanga Isine (Akwa Ibom)
6. Ledum Mitee (Rivers)
7. Lawson Omokhodion (Edo State)
“Other members of the Team shall be made public in due course after due consultations with relevant stakeholders.”
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Story by Joe Ogbodu
