MOVEMENT for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) says President Yar’Adua’s “nightmares” on the Niger-Delta, which he openly confessed, last weekend, won’t end in a hurry, warning that the nightmares may develop to “insomnia and hallucinations” except the president accedes to the call by the militant group, Niger-Delta leaders and well-meaning Nigerians to put the nation on the path of true federalism, release its supposed leader, Henry Okah, and other freedom fighters from detention.
Yar’Adua, represented by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, had acknowledged, at the passing out parade (POP) of officer-cadets of the 56th regular course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, that the Niger-Delta crisis was giving his government “nightmares.”
But responding to the statement in an exclusive online interview with Sunday Vanguard, weekend, Jomo Gbomo, the spokesman of the militant group, said, “At least, the president can still sleep to have nightmares in the first place. If he does not handle the unrest well, he will suffer from insomnia and followed by hallucinations, which is president that has nightmares on the Niger-Delta crisis; the MEND also has its own worries.
The militant group is scared stiff by those selling the struggle for a pot of porridge. The MEND spokesman also faulted government’s purported sincerity on the peace process, saying it was strange that Henry Okah was arrested after the vice president visited him in South-Africa, last year, to persuade him to be part of the peace process in the region, which he (Okah) allegedly acceded to.
He alleged that Jonathan might be holding grudge against the detained militant leader over the allegation that it was him that sent people to bomb his Otuoke country home in Bayelsa State. A source close to the vice president stated, however, that if Jonathan was so bitter against Okah, as insinuated, he would not have visited him in South-Africa to discuss the way forward in the region and allowed him to nominate the chairman and secretary of the Federal Government Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Niger-Delta. The source said the buck does not stop on the vice president’s table and some of his decisions on the Niger-Delta question could be shot down at higher quarters.
Excerpts of MEND’S interview with Sunday Vanguard:
President Umaru Yar’Adua says Niger-Delta crisis is giving him nightmares and, undoubtedly, the nightmares are caused by the activities of the MEND. How does the MEND take this truthful confession by Mr. President?
At least the president can still sleep to have nightmares in the first place. If he does not handle the unrest well, he will suffer from insomnia and followed by hallucinations, which is worse than nightmares.
Yar’Adua’s statement presupposes that he wants the nightmare to end. How does the MEND intend to guarantee this for him?
MEND cannot guarantee anything to end his nightmares. The president is the only one who can help himself by implementing true federalism and releasing Henry Okah as well as other freedom fighters in the custody of the Federal Government.
The president was specific that some few criminal minds are behind the insecurity in the region, which they are doing by destroying the economy and scaring away investors. People call MEND fighter-criminals. What does the MEND call itself?
As our name connotes, we are emancipators. The truth is that we have never been bothered about being called criminals because most Nigerians use words poorly. For example, people say “urgent” and you find it is not. A man refers to himself as “Honourable” because of an office he or she occupies, yet his behavior is far from it. It was Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari that once labelled Ken Saro Wiwa a “criminal” for leading a non -violent agitation for justice and change.
Yar’Adua spoke from his heart that the N-Delta crisis gives him nightmares. What are the things that give MEND nightmares in its current struggle?
What bothers us most is seeing how our people can easily be hoodwinked by promises and crumbs. It is very easy to lose focus when the government sprinkles some confusion into the people anytime they are beginning to see clearly such as this so-called ministry, which has, like we predicted, been a distraction on who heads it.
Many people are calling for amnesty for militants. Is the MEND ready to accept amnesty from the Federal Government for militants?
Interestingly, we should be the ones offering the criminals in government and the military amnesty and not the other way round. Reconciliation also must address the atrocities carried out by the military in the Niger Delta region as well as the various leaderships, starting from Yakubu Gowon and other military rulers who ruined the region.
Besides the governors of Rivers State, who is not ready to negotiate with militants, as advised by some Niger-Delta leaders, it seems the MEND is now getting along better than before with other governors of the region. What is the secret? Could it be that they understand and appreciate the purpose of the struggle better than Amaechi?
The other governors are showing us respect and we will give them respect in return. However, we are not in anyway subject to them and when the need arises we will take our orders from elsewhere.
I learnt that the Defence Council of the MEND has met to review the outcome of the on-going parley with government, spearheaded by Chief Clark. What is its position on the discussions so far and the way forward?
We are expecting that Chief Clark will be able to negotiate the release of freedom fighters that are still being held by government as a way of showing the government’s sincerity in embracing peace. If this is not happening quickly enough, it means that next time he calls for ceasefire, we will not listen to him.
Can you please clear the air on the Jomo Gbomo, thought and widely believed to be Henry Okah that was arrested, but, who currently sends email statements on behalf of the MEND? Okah is certainly not the one sending email statements in the name of Jomo Gbomo. What is the missing link?
Jomo Gbomo is the title of the official spokesperson for MEND. Linking Henry Okah to Jomo was done by some bitter individuals who wanted to use everything to nail him. Even the government charges refereed to him as Jomo Gbomo. So what it means is that they are holding the wrong person in custody.
There is something that I have not pieced together. The vice president visited Henry Okah in South Africa, last year; they discussed, he assured him of his support in the FG peace process on the Niger-Delta, and he, even, nominated the chairman and secretary of the FG Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Niger-Delta, Senator David Brigidi and Hon. Kingsley Kuku. Let’s us assume that security agencies in Angola arrested him when he got there unknown to the Nigerian government, and he was repatriated to Nigeria later. Why do you think that the vice president who went to discuss peace with him in South Africa before his present ordeal cannot put in a word for him to earn his release as a key factor in the peace process? Don’t you think he had put in words but that certain persons were bent on prosecuting him?
The arrest of Henry Okah after a visit by the vice president in a meeting where the issue of amnesty was discussed and his assistance sought to bring lasting solution only shows how insincere the government is. They were assured by some people that once Henry is out of circulation, there will be peace. Today we are all seeing that this theory was faulty. It is a disappointment that the vice president who had an agreement with Henry has been made to look like someone who cannot be trusted. He has to redeem himself by ensuring Henry is released to partake in the peace process if he wants those like us that have evaded capture to respect and trust the government again. We do know that the vice president is holding Henry responsible for the attack on his house in the village when he was the governor because he was told that by certain enemies of Henry and being a vindictive person he will not let go.
Did President Yar’Adua actually speak with Henry Okah after his election on how to bring peace to the Niger-Delta before his eventual arrest? What did they discuss, the promises, guarantee and assurance?
Yes, Henry reluctantly spoke with the president after he was persuaded to speak with him by a governor of one the Niger Delta states.
The president spoke on the governor’s phone and they spoke about bringing peace. Henry was very respectful during that brief discussion and promised to help.
Is the MEND surprised at the turn of events between Henry Okah on one side and Yar’ Adua, Jonathan and the Federal Government on the other side after the meeting in South-Africa and discussions on phone with Mr. President concerning peace in Niger-Delta?
We are disappointed but not surprised. It has shown us not to believe a word from these politicians. We doubt the President or his Vice has spoken to Henry since his capture because they believe he is of no use to them. Those militants who are feeling special because they have access to speak to the President and his Vice have not yet learnt a lesson from Henry’s case.
Has the MEND ever caught soldiers doing oil bunkering in the Niger-Delta, as alleged? What are the occasions and how were they handled?
How really do the military aid oil bunkering in the region? It is an open thing that the military are into bunkering big time especially the army and navy.