Nigerian Government has two weeks to commence dialogue with Militants “Aaron Team”, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) handed down the ultimatum in an online statement.
According to the statement by its spokesman, Gbomo Jomo, the dialogue which is the only condition for halting bombing of oil installations in the Niger Delta must involve ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
Also, MEND frowned at the Office of the National Security Adviser coordinating such dialogue.
Interestingly, MEND described members of the Niger Delta Avengers as criminals who are engage in militancy for their own personal aggrandizement.
“Government is at liberty to negotiate with arm-twisting unions and criminal groups like the NDA, so long as such negotiations are done in the national interest.
“MEND is not opposed to government’s plan to negotiate with the recalcitrant NDA through the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). Government must, however, not delude itself into thinking that negotiation with the NDA was tied to the resolution of the Niger Delta question.
“Negotiation with NDA is merely a temporary respite, as another opportunistic group is lurking in the shadows, but dialogue and resolution of the Niger Delta question will be a sustainable solution for all stakeholders.
“MEND had repeatedly reiterated that the Niger Delta struggle was beyond attacks on oil installations. In fact, destruction of oil and gas pipelines is an elementary course in guerilla warfare, which can be carried out by any militant group,” the statement reads.
