FG/Militants’ dialogue: MEND recants, accepts to work with Clark

.Disbands Ajumogobia dialogue team

.New militant group vows to flout ceasefire

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), on Monday, accepted to work with the Chief Edwin Clark-led Niger Delta Elders and Stakeholders conference committee in the planned dialogue between Federal Government and militant groups in the region.

This is even as a new militant group, the Niger Delta Searchlight (NDS) condemned the planned dialogue and declared that it will defy any ceasefire agreement reached with the Federal Government by other armed groups operating in the oil-rich region.

In accepting to work with the Chief Edwin Clark-led Niger Delta Elders and Stakeholders conference committee on the planned dialogue between Federal Government and militant groups, MEND, however vowed to closely monitor the group led by the elder statesman.

Recall that another militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) had last week nominated Clark to lead the negotiation with the Federal Government, but MEND rejected him, insisting that the team led by Odein Ajumogobia, former minister of foreign affairs, should spearhead the dialogue.

But in a statement issued on Monday, and signed by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, MEND said it had agreed to work with Clark.

The group said it reserved the rights to recall the nominees in Clark’s group within six months.

The statement read: “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) hereby announces the immediate disbandment of the AARON TEAM 2 dialogue and peace initiative headed by Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, which was inaugurated on June 12, 2016 and thereby affecting the take-off of ‘Operation Moses’ which is also hereby suspended.

“We sincerely thank all the patriots who honoured our invitation to serve and wish them well in their respective endeavours.

“The disbandment became necessary following MEND’s decision to recognise and work with Ijaw national leader, Chief (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, as the leader of a pan-Niger Delta dialogue and peace initiative.

“We have always advocated that the Niger Delta region must speak with a single voice under a single umbrella body; otherwise the much-sought-after peace and development shall elude the region, again.

“Therefore, under the new collaborative arrangement, MEND has nominated Messrs Ledum Mitee, Ibanga Isine and Timipa Jenkins Okponipere, Esq., to work alongside Chief (Dr.) Clark and other stakeholders.

“MEND shall continue to monitor the pace of progress of the Chief Edwin Clark-led team and reserves the right to recall its nominees after 6 months.”

The statement added that MEND had secured some some concessions in its initial talks with the government, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari could attest to them.

“Nevertheless, MEND is compelled to categorically warn that, it is not yet uhuru. The Chief Edwin Clark-led new initiative should realise that MEND was already in preliminary talks with the Federal Government as confirmed by President Muhammadu Buhari himself.

“In fact, we have so far been able to secure a number of concessions; some of which include, but are not limited to the release of political prisoners. We expect that Chief Clark and his team shall follow through with the rest of the dialogue and peace process,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, a new militant group, the Niger Delta Searchlight (NDS), on Monday, declared it will defy any ceasefire agreement reached with the Federal Government by other armed groups operating in the oil-rich region.

In a statement made available to journalists, the NDS expressed strong reservation with the integrity of Niger Delta leaders currently leading the dialogue on behalf of the armed agitators and threatened to escalate the bombing of oil installations if the Niger Delta Avengers pulls out of the struggle due to the ongoing dialogue.

According to the statement which was signed by it spokesman, General Igbede N. Igbede, the group warned that “the destruction of oil installations currently going on in the region will be child’s play compared to what will erupt if the Federal Government does not include recognised Niger Delta leaders in the parley”.

The group, however, noted that it was erroneous to assume that all the bombings done in the Niger Delta was executed by the Niger Delta Avengers only.

It explained: “We have allowed them claim responsibility for every operation to allow for cohesion and order in operation, but it has become obvious that they are compromised, given their choice of representatives.

“We want leaders who has the mandate of the people and feels the pains of our people; leaders who are capable of stating our demands without fear and not recycled Abuja politicians who are only using the struggle as an avenue to further appropriate the dividend of our struggles to themselves and their cronies to the detriment of the collective interest of the region.”