The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has countered the Ijaw Youth Council, the Peoples Democratic Party and other ex-militants in the Niger Delta region over its support for the candidature of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari.
In a release issued today, MEND’s spokesperson “Jomo Gbomo” described the statement credited to Peoples Democratic Party spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, as “callous and irresponsible”. Jomo Gbomo stated that MEND had no relationship with the APC. The militant group also took the leadership of the IYC to the cleaners for describing MEND as a “ghost”. The release provided a website news link where the IYC praised MEND for observing a ceasefire to show that IYC was just a praise singing organization.
See full text of the press statement below:
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) views the recent question and statement credited to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, as very callous and irresponsible. This question: “Explain your connections with MEND”, further confirms and vindicates our views about Goodluck Jonathan, his inept government and the PDP.
MEND strongly denies any links with the All Progressive Congress (APC) and has never been approached for anything, at any point in time, by the party, as pettily alleged by Olisa Metuh.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) stands strongly by our endorsement and full support of General Muhammadu Buhari as the man to lead the country out of its present calamitous state in the hands of Goodluck Jonathan.
MEND finds it laughable the recent statement by Mr Eric Omare, the Publicity Secretary of a mere tribal assembly and political praise singers, known as the Ijaw Youth Council, stating that “MEND is a ghost”. We clearly understand their frustrations at our stance as it obviously came as a shock to them.
Nigerians should ask this man (Eric Omare), if he was referring to “ghosts” when he lauded MEND for declaring a temporary ceasefire six (6) months ago as can be seen in the following links:http://thewillnigeria.com/news/iyc-hails-mend-ceasefire-urges-boko-haram-to-lay-down-arms/ http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/daily/news/26006-ijaw-group-hails-mend-ceasefire(http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/06/iyc-lauds-mend-ceasefire-n-delta/)
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) once more, urges Nigerians to ignore the empty threats of this so-called “ex-agitators” and the Ijaw Youth Council. Their reckless utterances only ridicule and confirm the colossal failure of the “Amnesty Programme”. We advise the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to use their idle time in telling and showing Nigerians and Niger Deltans what the government of Goodluck Jonathan has done or achieved in Nigeria and the region in the last six years in office, apart from giving them handouts called “Monthly Stipends”.
“If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time” – Abraham Lincoln.
For our Freedom and Yours
Jomo Gbomo
