The name 'Avengers' came from the lips of Goodluck Jonathan- RNDA
Thu Aug 11, 2016 07:28:am National
2.4K By Buchi Obichie
New militant splinter group, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, RNDA, have
accused former President Goodluck Jonathan, of forming the Niger Delta
Avengers, NDA, in 2014, during the build-up to the 2015 Presidential
election.
The group threatened to reveal more details of their relationship if Jonathan denies being the NDA sponsor.
According to SaharaReporters, the threat was contained in a statement by the RNDA Spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte.
The group said Jonathan had initially reached out to the leaders of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, asking them to support his re-election.
However, according to the RNDA, the former President became infuriated and conceievd the idea of the NDA, after MEND endorsed his rival, the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Muhammadu Buhari.
Whyte said following a secret meeting between Jonathan and several unidentified persons ahead of the Presidential election campaign of 2015, it was agreed that the Okah brothers should be contacted to reach out to MEND to endorse Jonathan and to work with the group of persons to ensure victory for the Peoples Democratic Party and Jonathan.
MEND was the suggested tool at the time, the Spokesperson said, because the NDA as a body has not been formed.
The statement read in part, "The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, and Mr. Gordon Obuah, the Chief Security Officer to President Jonathan, respectively were selected to visit Charles Okah in Kuje prison.
"Mr. Daniel Alabrah was given the assignment to draft an endorsement statement for Charles Okah to go through and pass on to MEND. According to the account, both men reported back that they had visited Okah in Kuje prison at night with the promise of his release along with others should he cooperate to get MEND to endorse Jonathan.
"It therefore came as a shock when MEND did the opposite and endorsed Buhari. Jonathan was livid with anger and swore that the Okahs would rot in prison."
It was also agreed that a show of force be put up in Yenagoa, where ex-militants led by Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a. Tompolo and Kingsley Kuku would threaten war should the electorate vote in Buhari's favour.
"It was around that period the idea of forming the Niger Delta Avengers was conceived. In fact, the name Avengers' came from the lips of Goodluck Jonathan.
"As Election Day approached, certain stakeholders were mobilised to form a force to standby and ensure total anarchy in the South-South and the South-East within 24 hours if the election results were not favourable to Jonathan. It took everyone by surprise to learn that Mr. Jonathan had conceded defeat even before the final results were released. The standby force that was supposed to attack specific targets was told to stand down. They were all compensated in US dollars cash."
The group further alleged that the Avengers then decided that it would be used as a tool to make things difficult for the Buhari Government by vandalising oil facilities and causing economic hardship.
"MEND was aware of this plot through a spy that could not be identified, and the group began its campaign to counter every effort of the NDA and the Biafran agitators to this day," the group said.
It should be noted that all those listed by the RNDA, including Tompolo and Kuku, have in separate statements, denied being members of the NDA, or having any involvement with them.
The group threatened to reveal more details of their relationship if Jonathan denies being the NDA sponsor.
According to SaharaReporters, the threat was contained in a statement by the RNDA Spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte.
The group said Jonathan had initially reached out to the leaders of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, asking them to support his re-election.
However, according to the RNDA, the former President became infuriated and conceievd the idea of the NDA, after MEND endorsed his rival, the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Muhammadu Buhari.
Whyte said following a secret meeting between Jonathan and several unidentified persons ahead of the Presidential election campaign of 2015, it was agreed that the Okah brothers should be contacted to reach out to MEND to endorse Jonathan and to work with the group of persons to ensure victory for the Peoples Democratic Party and Jonathan.
MEND was the suggested tool at the time, the Spokesperson said, because the NDA as a body has not been formed.
The statement read in part, "The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, and Mr. Gordon Obuah, the Chief Security Officer to President Jonathan, respectively were selected to visit Charles Okah in Kuje prison.
"Mr. Daniel Alabrah was given the assignment to draft an endorsement statement for Charles Okah to go through and pass on to MEND. According to the account, both men reported back that they had visited Okah in Kuje prison at night with the promise of his release along with others should he cooperate to get MEND to endorse Jonathan.
"It therefore came as a shock when MEND did the opposite and endorsed Buhari. Jonathan was livid with anger and swore that the Okahs would rot in prison."
It was also agreed that a show of force be put up in Yenagoa, where ex-militants led by Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a. Tompolo and Kingsley Kuku would threaten war should the electorate vote in Buhari's favour.
"It was around that period the idea of forming the Niger Delta Avengers was conceived. In fact, the name Avengers' came from the lips of Goodluck Jonathan.
"As Election Day approached, certain stakeholders were mobilised to form a force to standby and ensure total anarchy in the South-South and the South-East within 24 hours if the election results were not favourable to Jonathan. It took everyone by surprise to learn that Mr. Jonathan had conceded defeat even before the final results were released. The standby force that was supposed to attack specific targets was told to stand down. They were all compensated in US dollars cash."
The group further alleged that the Avengers then decided that it would be used as a tool to make things difficult for the Buhari Government by vandalising oil facilities and causing economic hardship.
"MEND was aware of this plot through a spy that could not be identified, and the group began its campaign to counter every effort of the NDA and the Biafran agitators to this day," the group said.
It should be noted that all those listed by the RNDA, including Tompolo and Kuku, have in separate statements, denied being members of the NDA, or having any involvement with them.
Related News
Leave a comment...