War as MEND issues two-week ultimatum to President Buhari for talks

– The MEND warns Federal government to commence talks for the peace in Niger Delta region

– The group has distanced self from the recent attacks and criticized Buhari’s media aide for his recent article on Niger Delta

– It further gave the list of proposed negotiators with the government

In a statement made available for NAIJ.com the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has given two-week ultimatum to the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

It reads: “We are sounding it as a warning to the military personnel and sympathizers working with the Nigerian nation residing in the Beni-seide region that their safety is no longer guaranteed. We are warning them because our mission is not to take innocent souls, but if they take our warning as an act of weakness, we feel very sorry for their wives and children whom they shall leave behind to mourn them.”

At the same time, Daily Post reports that the ultimatum was given to open negotiations with its “Reach out to ‘Aaron Team’ or face consequences.

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The group also answered to a recent piece written by the presidential spokesman titled ‘President Buhari sharpens focus on Niger Delta.”

MEND said that Niger Delta militants are not behind the killings and attacks on some coastal communities in Lagos and Ogun.

The militants called on the president to act fast in addressing issues it had earlier raised and listed names of those the authorities must negotiate with, warning that “if we don’t hear from the Federal Government, MEND shall safely assume that it is truly not sincere about dialogue on the Niger Delta question and responds only to the threat of violence or industrial action”.

The statement further reads: “It was tactless of Mr. Shehu to arrive at a conclusion in his article that, Niger Delta militants were behind the killings of prominent individuals and attacks on some coastal communities in Lagos and Ogun states. This casual but hasty generalization from a Presidential spokesperson is, to say the least, steeply divisive and capable of sparking a tribal war of unimaginable consequences between the Ijaws (whose youth are perceived to constitute a large number of the rank and file of Niger Delta militants) and the Yorubas.

“Quite apart from the fact that none of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) operatives have so far, been arrested by security agencies to establish Mr. Shehu’s sweeping assumption, the comment by Mr. Shehu is regrettable and infra dig his office.”

MEND stated that the key problem of President Buhari’s administration lies in its inability to distinguish between NEGOTIATION (emphasis supplied) with criminal elements such as the NDA who are sabotaging the nation’s economy and whose demands range from the mundane to the outright ridiculous, on the one hand; and DIALOGUE (emphasis supplied) on the Niger Delta question with a serious-minded group such as MEND, on the other hand.

“The government is therefore at liberty to negotiate with arm-twisting unions and criminal groups like the NDA so long as such negotiations were done in the national interest. After all, even in the United States and other Western countries, professional negotiators were often engaged by those Governments to negotiate with criminals who may have held innocent citizens hostage; while at the same time, placing snipers on standby to take out the threat to national security whenever the opportunity presented itself,” it said.

READ ALSO: We should learn lessons from Niger Delta – Minister

“MEND is therefore not opposed to government’s plan to negotiate with the recalcitrant NDA through the office of the NSA. However, Government must not delude itself into thinking that negotiation with the NDA was tied to the resolution of the Niger Delta question. Negotiation with NDA is merely a temporary respite, as another opportunistic group is lurking in the shadows. But dialogue and resolution of the Niger Delta question is a sustainable solution for all stakeholders.

“MEND have repeatedly reiterated that the Niger Delta struggle was beyond attacks on oil installations. In fact, destruction of oil and gas pipelines is an elementary course in guerilla warfare which can be carried out by any militant group. MEND, therefore stopped attacks on oil installations more than two years ago when the group unilaterally declared a ceasefire of hostilities on May 30, 2014, against Nigeria’s key economic and strategic interests. Since then, the group had relentlessly sought to engage Government in a sincere DIALOGUE (emphasis supplied) on the release of Prisoners of Conscience, including Henry and Charles Okah, as well as addressing the root issues bedevilling the Niger Delta region, without success.”

The group listed the names of people with who President Buhari must hold talks.

“Regardless of the fact that there is a consensus of opinion that the Federal government is not sincere about the kind of dialogue advocated by MEND, the group has nevertheless, named an Aaron Team comprised of the following persons:

i. Henry Odein Ajumogobia, SAN (Rivers) – Team Leader;

ii. Bismark Jemide Rewane (Delta) – Awaiting re-confirmation;

iii. Senator Florence Ita-Giwa (Cross River);

iv. High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Delta) – Awaiting confirmation;

v. Ledum Mitee, Esq. (Rivers);

vi. Lawson Omokhodion (Edo);

vii. Ibanga Isine (Akwa Ibom);

viii. Senator Adolphus Wabara (Abia);

ix. Alfred Isename (Edo);

x. Timipa Jenkins Okponipere, Esq. (Bayelsa) – Team Secretary

“For the avoidance of doubt, the MEND Aaron Team shall not dialogue with the NSA given that the office of the NSA lacks executive power. Given also the fact that the root issues surrounding the Niger Delta question are on the exclusive legislative list. Given further, the fact that the proposed dialogue is not an interrogatory session.

“We, therefore, hope that the Federal Government shall reach out to “Aaron Team Leader” Mr. Odein Ajumogobia to signal Government intention to commence the dialogue. If after two (2) weeks from the date of publication of this Right of Reply we don’t hear from the Federal Government, MEND shall safely assume that Government is truly not sincere about dialogue on the Niger Delta question and responds only to the threat of violence or industrial action.”

The Niger Delta Avengers have claimed series attacks on oil and gas pipelines in the last three months as part of what they frame a battle for independence. They have given oil firms until the end of this month to leave the region.

The Nigerian government announced the decision talk to leaders in the Delta region to address their grievances while cracking down on militants who have staged a wave of attacks oil pipelines there.

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