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| Militants |
A splinter group of the Niger Delta Avengers, Reformed Niger Delta
Avengers, RNDA, has insisted former President, Goodluck Jonathan is the
grand patron of the Niger Delta Avengers, threatening to reveal more
sordid details about his connection with the Avengers.
According to a statement made available to Dailypost, the group alleged
that NDA was was formed with the sole objective of taking over from the
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND and countering
their activities, said it understands why Jonathan denied the NDA.
The statement signed by its Spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte said, ”It
therefore did not come to the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) as a
surprise that the Grand Patron of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), former
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has distanced himself from the NDA.
”Like every sponsor, sympathizer and operative earlier mentioned who has
equally denied links with the Avengers, we can understand the wisdom
behind their decision; as their participation was always meant to be
covert.”
”After a clandestine meeting in Otuoke, Bayelsa state in 2014 between
the Grand Patron and several unidentified persons ahead of the
Presidential election campaign of 2015, it was agreed that the Okah
brothers should be contacted to reach out to the Movement for the
Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to endorse former President
Goodluck Jonathan, and work with the group of persons to ensure victory
for the PDP and President Jonathan.”
”To cut a long story short, NDA was formed to counter MEND but failed.
The statement, however, said that the RNDA is not surprised that the
alleged grand patron of the NDA, former President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan has distanced himself from the NDA.
”It therefore did not come to the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA)
as a surprise that the Grand Patron of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA),
former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has distanced himself from the
NDA.
”Like every sponsor, sympathizer and operative earlier mentioned who has
equally denied links with the Avengers, we can understand the wisdom
behind their decision; as their participation was always meant to be
covert.
”After a clandestine meeting in Otuoke, Bayelsa state in 2014 between
the Grand Patron and several unidentified persons ahead of the
Presidential election campaign of 2015, it was agreed that the Okah
brothers should be contacted to reach out to the Movement for the
Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to endorse former President
Goodluck Jonathan, and work with the group of persons to ensure victory
for the PDP and President Jonathan.
”Mr Kingsley Kuku and Mr. Gordon Obuah, SA on Niger Delta and Chief
Security Officer to President Jonathan, respectively were selected to
visit Charles
Okah in Kuje prison. Mr Daniel Alabrah was given the assignment to draft
an endorsement statement for Charles Okah to go through and pass on to
MEND.
”The duo reported back that they had visited Okah in Kuje prison at
night with the promise of his release along with others should he
cooperate to get MEND to endorse Jonathan.
”It therefore came as a shock when MEND did the opposite and endorsed
Buhari. Mr. Jonathan was livid with anger and swore that the Okah’s
would rot in prison.
”It was also agreed that a show of force be put up in Yenagoa, Bayelsa
state where ex-militants led by Government Ekpemupolo and Kingsley Kuku
would threaten war should the electorate vote in Buhari’s favour.
”It was around that period the idea of forming the Niger Delta
Avengers was conceived. In fact the name “Avengers” came from the lips of Goodluck Jonathan.
”As election day approached, certain stakeholders were mobilized to form
a force to standby and ensure total anarchy in the South-South and
South-East within 24 hours if the election results were not favourable
to Jonathan. It took everyone by surprise to learn that Mr Jonathan had
conceded defeat even before the final results were
released. The standby force who were to attack specific targets were
told to stand down. They were all compensated in US dollars cash.
”The Niger Delta Avengers was born from the failure at the polls and
would now be used as an organ to make the Buhari government
ungovernable, bring economic hardship and cause hatred for the
administration towards failure at the 2019 general elections.
”MEND was aware of this plot through a spy that could not be identified,
and the group began its campaign to counter every effort of the NDA and
the Biafra agitators to this day. MEND has been a thorn in the flesh
because MEND’s successful propaganda has caused the split in
our ranks today.
”If former President Jonathan provokes us further with denials of this
revelation, we will reveal more sordid details. The prison authorities
in Kuje who witnessed the closed door meeting from the outside can
attest to that night visit of November 2014.”
