The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has withdrawn its members of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
The withdrawal takes effect from Monday.
According to a statement by its spokesman, Gbomo Jomo, MEND’s withdrawal from the group followed the alleged commercial and political motives of the leaders and most of the members.
According to the group, the members of PANDEF had considered the platform as a means to making some pecuniary and political gains.
While expressing lack of confidence in the leadership of PANDEF, MEND said it would not hesitate to attack the ill-gotten assets of members of the group still being shielded away from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It added that in the interim, it would align with some other groups believed to be sincere in their posturing.
The group, MEND said, included the new Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), under Barrister Oweilaemi and the Niger Delta People’s Congress (NDPC) and genuine militants desiring change such as the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate.
The statement by the group reads: “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has from Monday, August 14, 2017, withdrawn its support and representatives from the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
“Our decision to abandon PANDEF stems from the commercial and political motives of the leaders and most of the members who now see the platform as a means to bounce back financially and politically.
“It is also as a result of the lie told by Chief Clark to State House correspondents after the PANDEF volte-face meeting with the Acting President on Thursday, August 3, 2017, where he said that MEND was part of the parley when the group wasn’t represented.
“MEND has also lost confidence in the effete leadership of Chief Edwin Clark and HRH, King Alfred Diete-Spiff who like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, still crave for power, wealth and pleasure to the detriment of developing the younger generation in leadership.
“It is annoying working with pretenders who conspired to keep silent when Goodluck Jonathan wasted the opportunity of the region and were part of the conspiracy to suppress the voice of Henry Okah and MEND.
“Today, the East West road they have suddenly realised that is in need of urgent repairs is a shameful deathtrap which passes alongside oil wells and sits< on top of huge gas reserves.
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“PANDEF is demanding for the road to be completed but during the 6 wasted years, these same members used the dilapidated road, lost loved ones there but said nothing, engaging instead on worthless pleasures, with the Abuja residence of Chief Clark as the rallying point.
“Chief Clark who had direct access to his “son” Goodluck Jonathan did not advise the former President to address the root issues and develop the region.
“Many sons and daughters who enriched themselves, including the current PANDEF leaders have no single viable industry built in the Niger Delta to show for it.
“The assets they have acquired are now forfeited to the region or the EFCC. Those ill-gotten assets cleverly hidden from the EFCC that we discover will be attacked and burnt to the ground.
“The Niger Delta is today blessed with private, State, and Federal university presence; including a maritime academy in Oron, Akwa Ibom State which was established in the early 80s.
“One begins to wonder if the desperation and insistence of another similar university as a top priority by PANDEF is not just a ploy to cover-up an established financial crime.
“MEND will in the interim align with the new Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), under Barrister Oweilaemi and will continue disdaining the old impostors claiming to be IYC.
“We will also cooperate with the Niger Delta People’s Congress (NDPC) and genuine militants desiring change such as the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, who have shown consistency in doing away with the old order.”
