Goodluck Jonathan Cries Out Over Plots To Assassinate Him

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in a statement made by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze has raised an alarm that his life is under threat by the militants group MEND.

The statement by Jonathan also said the list of sponsors by the splinter group Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) was political, adding that it was part of an attempt to assassinate him.

The statement read in part: “Since it is not in our place to speak for all those named in the obvious fabrication, we are only intervening to the extent that its hidden intent poses a violent threat to the life of former President Goodluck Jonathan, a committed patriot.

“We are seized by the feeling of déjà vu occasioned by the resurrection of one dim character masquerading as Cynthia Whyte, who had in the past served as the spokesperson for a notorious group that had all along shown its hand to be going after the life of former President Jonathan.”

The former President recalled that in 2007, after he emerged as the running mate of the late President Umar Yar’Adua, the group invaded Yenogoa in an effort to assassinate him.

He added that the members of the group later bombed his compound in Otuoke, Bayelsa state, on a night he was scheduled to attend to an important matter in his country home.

“Do we need to remind anybody that the so-called Cynthia Whyte is the self-declared spokesperson for the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, a violent and murderous underground group led by one Henry Okah, which has not hidden its intention to destroy the former President?” Jonathan stressed.

According to him, the bombing that took place on October 1, 2010 at the Eagle Square, Abuja, showed that the group was violent.

GEJ noted that: “We have no doubt in our mind that MEND, as a group contracted to go after Jonathan with the mind of assassinating him, has yet to abandon this criminal and ignominious craving. It is in this light that we view the purported statement issued by Cynthia Whyte as not only a sadistic continuation of this sick desire, but also a futile attempt to instigate the Federal Government to needlessly go after the former President.

“Those who have been following the unsavoury developments in some parts of the country since the last general election would have noticed that MEND, its paymasters and other unscrupulous elements in the South-South region have been striving fruitlessly to exploit the ensuing confusion by surreptitiously working for the fulfilment of its yet-to-be declared political agenda.

“We are not under any illusion that more accusations and allegations of this nature would not be hurled Jonathan’s way in the future. But we are very positive that he can never be fazed by such negative energy.”

A group, which split from the NDA – Reformed Niger Delta Avengers – had named Jonathan as the grand patron of the NDA.
An online medium, Sahara Reporters, reported that in a statement by its spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte, the RNDA also listed the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, as sponsors of the NDA.

Others mentioned in the list were Chief Edwin Clark, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio; ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo); the founder, African Independent Television, Raymond Dokpesi; Kingsley Kuku; Kimi Angozi, and Patrick Akpobolokemi.

According to Sahara Reporters, the group said the NDA sympathisers are Daniel Alabrah; Tony Uranta, Daniel; Ms. Annkio Briggs, and a former spokesman for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh.

The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers also named Oyege Nimi Brown, VIP Timothy, Joshua Macaiver, Paul Bebenimibo, among others, as the main operatives of the NDA.

It added that the President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Udengs Eradiri, aka Brig. Gen. Murdoch Agbinibo, served as the NDA’s chief spokesman.

Also, Clark, who spoke through his lawyer, Mr. Dotun Sowemimo, wondered why he would be mentioned as one of the sponsors of such a heinous crime against the nation.

He said: “The allegation is an attempt to undermine the efforts of the Niger Delta leaders to bring true, lasting peace to the region.

“Clark and other leaders in the region believe in the unity of Nigeria. The list is a cheap lie, which is meant to distract the peace moves by the elders and leaders in the Niger Delta.”

On his part, Wike, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, said the list should be ignored by the members of the public.

Dokpesi, also distanced himself from the Niger Delta Avengers. Dokpesi in an interview with The Punch on Sunday in Abuja, said he remained committed to strengthening the unity and stability of Nigeria.

He said, “I don’t know who is giving that report; I have never met any member of the NDA in my life, I have no association with them and I don’t know who they are. I have been committed to strengthening the unity and stability of the country.”

Also denying the allegation, Metuh said he had nothing to do with the NDA . He said: “Ordinarily, I would not have responded to this, but on this occasion, I have chosen to respond, as this particularly borders on matters affecting national security.

“This is a wicked, cruel and devilish plot to link me with such activities, especially as the claim is outright false.’’

A former spokesman for the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, also denied being a sympathiser of the NDA.

Alabrah said in a statement on Sunday that the report was a product of mischief designed to distract the Federal Government from decisively addressing the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta.

The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, denied being a sponsor of the Niger Delta Avengers or any other militant group.

In a statement on Sunday by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Anietie Ekong, the former Governor of Akwa Ibom state described the allegation as “baseless, reckless and senseless.”

The statement read in part, “Senator Akpabio has no link with the Niger Delta Avengers or any other militant group for that matter.’’

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Air Force Resumes Air Bombardment Of Vandals Hideout In Arepo, Ogun State

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, on Friday resumed fresh air strike on suspected militants’ hideouts and suspected vandals in Arepo, Ogun State following gunshots sounds heard earlier in the area.

Punch quoted a source as saying, “The operation is still ongoing. There is still serious military action going on in the place. Even as we are talking, the Air Force is engaging them from the sky,” the source said.

”Shortly after the IGP left, ground forces had also moved there to respond to the gunfire from the vandals and the place was quiet for some time, according to the source.

“Then on Friday, the helicopter started the fire again. Some of the guys are trapped in the thick forest.”

Suspected Militants Blow Up Shell Export Crude Oil Pipe Line In Delta

Suspected militants have blown up crude oil export trunk line, Trans Ramos, belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, in Delta State.

The affected trunk line, which is located close to Odimodi community in Delta State, was attacked on Sunday.

A resident, Endoro New-World, who confirmed the development, said, “The incident occurred at about 1.00 am with the velocity of the blast shaking apartments in the community amidst a huge ball of fire.

“At sunrise, a group from the community in company of the SPDC surveillance team was able to locate the site of the blast.”

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Ex-Militants’ Protest: Army, DSS, Police, Navy Take Over Warri, Effurun

The Nigerian Army, Navy, Police and Department of State Services, DSS, have deployed personnel in strategic locations in Warri, Effurun and environs in Delta State, following intelligence report that ex-militants plan to protest the non-payment of their monthly allowances.

Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd), the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, while reacting to the development, said that there was no need for the protest.

He said: “It is true that there are some debts, but the money has come. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, will start payment from today or tomorrow. I have long passed this information to the ex-militants that payment will start soon. I do not know why some of them are still insisting on the protest.”

Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Joseph Dzunve, who also spoke to Vanguard, said: “The reported planned protest is already in the media which seems to be ahead of others in sharing the alert. And you would have noticed that since Saturday, the Army, Police, Navy and other security agencies have mobilized their men to be on ground to check any unruly act.”

Also, a DSS source in the locality explained that the ex-militants planned to carry out the protest last Wednesday and Thursday, but security operatives aborted same.

He said: “With the feelers we now have, anything can happen as they withdrew into their shell in the last few days. But I think it is not even a security concern to stop their protest. The fear is whether they will be lawful about it, added to concerns that hoodlums can take advantage of the situation.”

Soldiers of the 3 Battalion, Effurun, David Ejoor Barracks, were seen patrolling major roads in Effurun and Warri with military trucks, while some were stationed at the DSC Roundabout.

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FFK Warns Buhari Over Niger Delta Militants

Chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has raised alarm that Nigeria will disintegrate if President Muhammadu Buhari directs military to tackle the Niger Delta militancy.

Writing through his Facebook account, the PDP politician reacting to the report on the CNN that “the Nigerian government is preparing troops for a crackdown in the Niger Delta if peace talks fail.”

FFK writes: “This is sad and ominous. As United States Senator Ted Cruz once said “the light of truth is stronger than the terror of darkness”.

“It follows that the biggest mistake that the Buhari administration can possibly make is to attempt to “crack down” on the Niger Delta and kill innocent civilians.

“If this ever happens, for whatever reason, it will set off a chain of events that will lead to the end of Nigeria as we know it.

“Nigeria will disintegrate before Buhari’s very eyes if any more innocent blood is shed and if the towns, creeks and villages of the oil-producing states are shelled and reduced to rubble.

“The cause of the people of the Niger Delta, and indeed that of the Igbo people of the eastern states, is just and their struggles and aspirations are legitimate and reasonable.

“Self-detetmination is a right. It is a concept and principle that is universally accepted and that has the backing of international law.

“You do not threaten and bomb those that seek to exercise that right: you treat them with respect, decency and decorum and attempt to persuade them to stay.

“This is a point that is lost on President Buhari and those around him. The Avengers are not Boko Haram: taking them on in the field of battle would be a monumental error.”

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DONE DEAL: Henry, Charles Okah, Nnamdi Kanu May Be Freed As MEND, FG Strike Deal To End N-Delta Crisis

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Federal Government have allegedly reached initial agreement, including the release of former militant leader, Henry Okah, in prison in South Africa and Charles Okah, incarcerated in Nigeria.

The agreement also includes that ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, would not be harassed by government if he makes himself available as a delegate on MEND Aaron Team 2, while the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, would be released on condition that he renounces the agitation for “Biafra Republic.”

MEND in a statement by spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, today (Saturday) said: “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is the only militant group from the Niger Delta region who are presently engaged in a dialogue with the Federal Government of Nigeria - through oil companies and security agencies -with a view to resolving the current Niger Delta crisis.”

“Thus far, the deliberations have been fruitful, various concessions and guarantees have already been secured. Some of which include, but are not limited to: Release of Henry Okah, Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze; Review of the life sentence handed to Mr. Edmund Ebiware based on a proposal put forward by the Aaron Team representative for Abia and Imo states, Senator Adolphus Wabara.

“Also, conditional release of IPOB leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and others if they renounce their agitation for a “Biafra Republic,” the group said.

Furthermore, MEND said they agreed: “That Mr. Government Ekpemupolo shall not be arrested, harassed and/or intimidated whenever he makes himself available as a delegate of the MEND Aaron Team.”

It added: “That international arbitrator and conflict negotiator, American Dr. Judith Asuni shall be accepted as the representative of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) on the MEND Aaron Team; that the criminal charges against Urhobo freedom fighter, Mr. Kelvin Prosper Oniarah shall be reviewed.

“That the life sentence which was handed to seven soldiers in 2008, who actively supported the Niger Delta struggle be reviewed under the Presidential Amnesty Programme. The affected persons are: Suleiman Alabi Akubo, Major. Mathias Peter, SGT, Alexander Davou, L.Cpl., Moses Nwaigwe, L.Cpl., Nnandi Anene, L.Cpl. Taatihi Emmanuel, L.Cpl and Caleb Bawa, PTE,” it said. .

“However, one of the most immediate and urgent fallout of the ongoing dialogue is the imperative for the Federal Government and MEND to jointly and separately take proactive steps to rescue and secure the region. This is in the event that the recalcitrant Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) continuing on its senseless and politically-motivated path of attacks on the country's oil assets,” it noted.

MEND asserted: “To this end, both parties agreed that the Special Forces of the Nigerian Army should commence the purely routine but strategic military exercise code-named "Operation Crocodile Tears"; while MEND would commence a meet-the Government-Actors-and-People tour of the Niger Delta region code-named "Operation Moses".

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