The Movement for the Emancipation of
the Niger-Delta, MEND, fell apart, today, with President Muhammadu Buhari,
passing a vote of no confidence on his government, especially with regards to
his handling of the current Niger-Delta crisis.
MEND’s condemnation of Buhari
government contained in a statement by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, came as a
surprise, as the militant group supported him in the 2015 election against
former President Goodluck Jonathan until yesterday.
In a statement, the group said:
“Without prejudice to the pre- 2015 Presidential election endorsement freely
and voluntarily given to President Muhammadu Buhari on January 6, 2015, the
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) hereby categorically
and unequivocally pass a vote of no confidence on the government of President
Buhari; specifically with regard to the government’s handling of the current
Niger Delta crisis.”
Describing President Buhari as sly,
the group said: “We hereby demand that President Muhammadu Buhari must put a
stop to his cunning, crafty and un-statesman rhetoric about the Niger Delta
region as they have only served the purpose of jeopardizing the fragile peace
in the region.”
It also urged him to “direct the
relevant agency of government to immediately commence dialogue with the Niger
Delta region; as duly and ably represented by PANDEF.” The group asserted:
“Furthermore, notice is hereby given
to the Federal Government that all Niger Delta militant commanders and/or
individuals, who were tracked and arrested while observing a ceasefire ahead of
talks with the federal government, should be treated well.”
“They should be allowed access to
their lawyers, the International Red Cross and a delegation from PANDEF so as
to ascertain their wellbeing and ensure they have not been tortured or killed,
extra judicially,” it said.
Giving reasons for its new position,
MEND said: “That prior to and after his reluctant meeting with the traditional
rulers, opinion leaders and stakeholders of the Niger Delta region, under the
auspices of PANDEF on November 1, 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari has been
carrying on arrogantly and making controversial, prejudicial, conflicting and
contradictory statements about the politics and economy of the oil-rich
region.”
“Since after he assumed the reins,
President Muhammadu Buhari has always, for reasons best known to him, held the
Niger Delta region in contempt; while accusing and/or blackmailing the
leadership of the region of not being ready for dialogue whereas it is the
Federal Government who are not ready or willing to name a Team to dialogue with
the people.
“Prior to the inauguration of
PANDEF, the several sessions of dialogue held between representatives of MEND,
on the one hand; and those of the Federal Government, on the other hand; where
concessions were secured for the release of the Okah brothers and several other
political detainees and prisoners of conscience was a grand deception on the
part of the Federal Government. “After the MEND/FG dialogue, which was publicly
confirmed by no less a person than President Buhari in his farewell remarks to
Mr. Michael Zinner, the out-going German Ambassador to Nigeria, President
Buhari reneged on the agreements reached at the dialogue,” he said.
The group added: “And following on
the heels of the breach of the agreements, President Buhari personally wrote
and signed a damaging and prejudicial letter to the Government of South Africa
in an attempt to willfully truncate the on-going peace process in Nigeria; sabotage
the legal options open to Henry Okah and simultaneously influence the on-going
trial of Charles Okah and others, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, in favour
of the Federal Government.”
Source:Vanguard
Tags
Politics