On Friday, April 13, 2012 , at about 0210hrs
Nigerian time, fighters of the Movement for
the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (M.E.N.D.)
attacked and destroyed one manifold and
one wellhead on a trunk line operated by
Agip Oil Company, in Clough Creek, Bayelsa
State in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria .
As opposed to our earlier intentions, there
will be no pause in our assault on the
Nigerian oil industry. There will forthwith, be
sustained strikes on all pipelines and
facilities remotely related to the Nigerian oil
industry. Additionally, M.E.N.D. will commence
with attacks on MTN South Africa
infrastructure in the Niger Delta region.
Concerning attacks on MTN related
infrastructure, M.E.N.D. will issue shortly, a
set of guidelines to MTN employees,
customers, and owners of properties
accommodating MTN related communication
equipments. These guidelines are intended
to minimise civilian casualties and forestall
the unnecessary destruction of privately
owned properties accommodating MTN
equipments.
At this juncture, we deem it necessary to
address a misinformed editorial published
in the Nation newspaper of Sunday,
February 12, 2012 .
Ordinarily, this article which is bereft of
intellectual value is undeserving of our
attention. However, the misinformation
disseminated by the Nation newspaper is
injurious to its readership and must be
checked in good time.
In its misguided editorial, the Nation affirms
its confidence in the South African
government and justice system. This paper,
earlier published an article entitled ” Libya-
Nigeria , South Africa in cold war over
Gaddafi’s fate; Panic over likely release of
Okah by South Africa . In this article, the
Nation newspaper quotes a reliable Nigerian
government source as saying, “if Okah is
released through a circumvented process,
Zuma will be the loser at the end of the day.”
This statement infers that the South African
president is benefiting personally from the
continued incarceration of Henry Okah in
South Africa . How then can the Nation turn
around and declare the continued detention
for almost 19 months now, without trial or
proof of a Nigerian citizen to be a just
action?
The Nigerian media industry is at its lowest
point with unscrupulous journalists, editors
and publishers on the payroll of Goodluck
Jonathan. The Nation newspaper appears to
lean towards this direction.
Nigerians will recall that the unconditional
offer of amnesty made in good faith by the
late president Yar’ Adua, was intended to
create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue
aimed at addressing the demands of the
people of the Niger Delta. A Jonathan
presidency and amnesty for militants were
not a part of our demands and therefore
will never be a solution to armed agitation
for justice in the Niger Delta.
President Goodluck Jonathan has
mismanaged the goodwill demonstrated by
M.E.N.D. by misrepresenting himself and his
band of charlatans as the reason for the
relative calm experienced in the Niger Delta.
We have never had any respect for Jonathan
and today, most Nigerians understand why.
To date, not one of the demands put
forward to the Yar Adua government has
been met; neither has the Nigerian
government initiated dialogue aimed at
addressing any of our demands.
Our decision to attack South African
investments in the Niger Delta is directly
related to the conduct of president Zuma
regarding the continued incarceration in
South Africa of Henry Okah.
What is happening in South Africa is a
travesty of justice which must be
condemned by all. What country on earth
besides Nigeria will so easily surrender its
right to try someone it accuses of
masterminding a bombing on its national
day? Why does the South African
government seek the extradition of Shrien
Dewani from England for a murder
committed in South Africa ?
The South African government is simply
being used by the Nigerian government to
hold Okah in prison for as long as it possibly
can. The South African government also
knowingly provided fabricated evidence to
ensure Okah was denied bail in 2010. Jacob
Zuma’s gain in all this is financial. Sacoil
Holdings is a front for Zuma’s financial
dealings in Nigeria . The South African
president has also facilitated the award of
several contracts in Nigeria to South African
government owned establishments and
individuals in Zuma’s favour. After years of
fighting for freedom and justice, South
Africans now find themselves saddled with
yet another typically African, corrupt and
dictatorial government.
Yes, we will attack South African investments
for the interference of President Jacob Zuma
in the judicial process which has resulted in
the perpetual incarceration of Henry Okah.
It is a shame on all black Africans that it has
taken the government of Jacob Zuma less
than four years to undo the work of the
great Nelson Mandela and other heroes of
the anti-apartheid struggle, abseiling South
Africa into the abyss comfortably occupied
by countries like Nigeria , Congo and
Angola . It is apparent from the success of
the Nigerian government that this corrupt
and politically naive South African
government understands only the language
of force.
We will persist with our attacks on the
Nigerian oil industry due to the inaction of
the Nigerian government concerning our
just demands on behalf of the oppressed
people of the Niger Delta. The Jonathan
administration has used the dubious
“amnesty programme” as a guise to line the
pockets of Goodluck Jonathan, his wife
Patience, Jonathans cronies and members of
the amnesty committee whose sudden
wealth remains unchallenged by the
Nigerian media.
Fighters in the delta do not posses relevant
high school qualifications. Those being sent
abroad are relatives and friends of Jonathan,
amnesty committee members etc.
The entire process is a fraud on the people
of Nigeria who are being promised peace in
the Niger Delta, in the absence of justice.
There is absolutely nothing the Nigerian
military or unprincipled sections of the
Nigerian media can do that will halt our
march to freedom!
The Nigerian oil industry and South African
investments in Nigeria will witness an
assault unprecedented in the history of
armed conflict in the Niger Delta.
MEND will once and for all expose Goodluck
Jonathan and his band of so called ex-
militants and shameless Ijaw elders for the
frauds they are!
Jomo Gbomo
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