The Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), says they are ready
to dialogue with the Federal government to bring an end to the
hostilities in the Niger Delta region. According to The Nation, the group said this in a statement released by its Spokesman, Gbomo Jomo today Monday June 13th.
MEND says members of its negotiation team that will
meet with the Federal government delegation will include Henry Odein
Ajumogobia SAN (Rivers); Bismark Rewane (Delta); Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa
(Cross River); Timipa Jenkins Okponipere (Bayelsa); Ibanga Isine (Akwa
Ibom); Ledum Mitee (Rivers) and Lawson Omokhodion (Edo State).
The group called on its rival militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, to
drop their arms and come to the negotiation table with the Federal
government. Their statement in part reads
โWith 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 regionโs 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. Evidently, the ceasefire was an
indication of the groupโs belief that, in this present age and time,
โiron and bloodโ 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,โ he said.
