by Oge Okonkwo

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, Governor of Rivers state, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and members of the Abubakar Baraje-led new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been urged by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to ignore threats from the ex-militants in the Niger-Delta region.

A group of ex-militants under the auspices of the Leadership, Peace, and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI) had on Saturday declared Alhaji Atiku unwelcome in the  Niger Delta region, accusing the former vice president,Gov. Amaechi and members of  new PDP of plotting to scrap the second term bid of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

In a statement signed by MEND spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, he was quoted saying ; “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) urges former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, the New PDP and our brothers and sisters from other parts of Nigeria, to ignore the empty threats and provocative comments from idle political thugs parading themselves as ex-militants, as well as some so-called elders and tribal assemblies of the Niger Delta.

Leadership news reports:

“It is the right of any detribalised, honest, and qualified Nigerian to aspire for the highest office of the land to bring progress, peace, reconciliation and other dividends of democracy. It is also in order for a performing incumbent to seek a legitimate extension of his/her tenure in office as long as the peoples vote will count and the bid does not run contrary to any prior agreements reached within their party. MEND believes in honour and integrity.

“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is ready to end activities of illegitimate oil merchants, pipeline vandalisation, and the unrest in the Niger Delta region when the reason we took up arms is addressed by a listening administration regardless of the part of our great country the president comes from.”