The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has dissociated itself from the press conference called on Monday in Abuja by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
It also withdrew its representatives, Ledum Mitee and Ibanga Isine, from PANDEV.
In a statement issued by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, MEND described the press conference as hypocritical.
The group argued that PANDEF, led by Chief Edwin Clark and King Alfred Diette-Spiff, lacked the moral justification to give the federal government an ultimatum and make demands they never made from Goodluck Jonathan when he was at the helm for “6 wasted years.”
MEND said rather than issuing threat to the federal government, PANDEF should commend the government for revealing the monumental fraud perpetrated to steal the wealth of the nation by leaders.
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The statement reads in part: “Instead of listening to the so-called Niger Delta activists and the compromised Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) who have miraculously regained the voices they lost when Jonathan was President, and instead of issuing threats through fake internet-based militant groups, PANDEF ought to have used the forum and opportunity to commend the Federal Government for exposing the monumental looting of our commonwealth by some sons and daughters of the soil starting from the former President, his wife Patience, cousins, relatives and cronies and so many other traitors; down to the mind boggling theft by Dieziani Allison-Madueke, who empowered others while her people lived in squalour and abject poverty.
“PANDEF is also pretending not to notice that the Amnesty Programme is still operating on the corrupt template that still pays ghost militants after it hoodwinked the government into believing in the fraud.
“A programme that has neglected the children of the dead freedom fighters and those in prison, for those that never made any sacrifice is cursed.
“In view of our irreconcilable differences, MEND hereby recalls its representatives in PANDEF for consultation with immediate effect.”
