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
