MEND threatens fresh attacks on oil facilities

THE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has threatened fresh attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta over what it believes is the slow pace of action by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in tackling the problems of the oil region.
The militant group also insisted on the retention of Prof. Wole Soyinka as part of the Aaron Team since, in their words, “his presence and guidance through this stage will be invaluable to the credibility of any talks with the Federal Government.”
MEND, which said it always preferred dialogue to armed conflict, has confirmed that though there has been some indirect contact with government, it would not waste its time and energy on what it described as “aimless talks, which avoid the sore issue of resource control.”
The Nobel laureate had last week during the 13th Professor Wole Soyinka Lecture organised by the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) allegedly threatened to pull out of the Aaron Team if MEND fails to resume talks with the government by the end of this month.
MEND spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, in an online interview with The Guardian, said that Soyinka's comments might have been informed by his frustration over inactivity regarding the talks with which he had been associated. This inactivity, according him, is solely the fault of the government, which believes agitation in the Niger Delta can be quelled by “bribing criminals and traitors.”
“Professor Soyinka was approached by MEND to volunteer his presence as an observer to our anticipated talks with the Nigerian government on account of his unblemished reputation as a fair campaigner for justice in Nigeria. His presence and guidance through this stage will be invaluable to the credibility of any talks,” said Gbomo.
MEND reiterated its commitment to the fight for justice in the Niger Delta and vowed to continue with its quest for justice regardless of the composition of its negotiators.
The group blamed the stalling of talks with government on the illness and later, death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
According to Gbomo, President Yar’Adua accepted to dialogue on all points demanded by MEND concerning the agitation and armed conflict in the Niger Delta.
“His death (Yar’Adua) was a huge blow to genuine attempts aimed at resolving the injustice in the Niger Delta. Our demands to the Nigerian state for a cessation of hostilities remain the same. Any talks unwilling to address the cause of agitation in the Niger Delta as stated in our demands, will never take place,” said Gbomo.
MEND noted that it had in January 2010 called off its unilateral ceasefire and this in effect means it is still in a state of war with the oil industry and the Nigerian military operating in the Niger Delta.
“Our attacks on the oil industry are imminent, seeing that the government of Goodluck Jonathan has nothing to offer the people of the Niger Delta,” Gbomo said.
MEND warned that the foundation upon which President Jonathan is attempting to build Nigeria is weak and would not sustain a positive growth of the nation.
It said corruption remains rife with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) acting as a tool of oppression and persecution for the government.