Former President Goodluck Jonathan has debunked claims that he was
one of the sponsors of Niger Delta militants, as he stated that the Movement
for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has been contracted with the
mind of assassinating him.
He made this known in a statement by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze
on Sunday.
The former President was silent on those who contracted the group
to kill him.
He was alleged in a pressed statement by “one dim character
masquerading as ‘Cynthia White’ who had in the past served as the spokesperson
for a notorious group that had all along shown its hand to be going after the
life of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan”.
“Our attention has been drawn to a malicious claim by a shadowy
group which calls itself the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) to the effect
that many notable Ijaw and other Niger Delta leaders and elders, especially
those perceived not to be too close to the powers that be, are the alleged
sponsors of the current crises in the Niger Delta.
For the avoidance of doubt, we are fully convinced that such an
idiotic claim is too cheap a narrative, a facile contrivance so badly concocted
that any discerning mind would easily see through its disingenuous and
duplicitous nature.
Since it is not in our place to speak for all those named in the
obvious fabrication, we are only intervening to the extent that its hidden
intent poses a violent threat to the life of former President Dr. Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, a committed patriot who the Almighty God has given the
grace and good health to rededicate his life to the service of humanity, after serving
his dear nation as President to the best of his abilities.
We are also not bothered by this baseless accusation, contented
that we are not the only ones conversant with Jonathan’s widely-acknowledged
sincere disposition to peace, non-violence and better human community.
We are however seized by the feeling of déjà vu occasioned by the
resurrection of one dim character masquerading as ‘Cynthia White’, who had in
the past served as the spokesperson for a notorious group that had all along
shown its hand to be going after the life of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Nigerians could recall that in 2007 when Jonathan emerged as the running mate
to the late President Umar’ Yar’Adua in the People’s Democratic Party during
that year’s presidential election, this very group invaded Yenogoa with
hundreds of militants in an effort to assassinate him. Jonathan was only saved
then by the spirited efforts of the combined forces of determined security men,
who gallantly repelled the attack.
Let us also not forget that members of this same group later
invaded and bombed Jonathan’s compound in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, on a night he
was scheduled to attend to an important matter in his country home. He was only
saved by the grace of God, who in His infinite mercy created intervening
factors that prevented Jonathan from sleeping in his country home that night.
Do we need to remind anybody that the so called Cynthia White is
the self declared spokesperson of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta
(MEND), a violent and murderous underground group led by one Henry Orkah, which
has not hidden its intention to destroy the former President?
The unfortunate event of 1st October 2010 in Abuja at the Eagle
Square during the Independence Day celebrations for that year, being presided
over by the former President, bears out this conviction. It would be recalled
that after an attempt to bomb the venue, with the mind of assassinating
Jonathan and possibly other high profile local and international dignitaries in
attendance, was thwarted by tight security deployment, the terrorists exploded
their bombs in other parts of Abuja, resulting in the death of many innocent
Nigerians. It is no secret that following that incident, Orkah, the leader of
MEND was arrested, tried, convicted and jailed in South Africa over terrorism
charges by the security authorities of that country. He remains in a South
African prison till date while his associates in Nigeria are still being held
in Kuje prison, Abuja.
We, therefore, have no doubt in our mind that MEND, as a group
contracted to go after Jonathan with the mind of assassinating him, is yet to
abandon this criminal and ignominious craving. It is in this light that we view
the purported statement issued by ‘Cynthia White’ as not only a sadistic
continuation of this sick desire, but also a futile attempt to instigate the
Federal Government to needlessly go after the former President.
Those who have been following the unsavoury developments in some
parts of the country since the last general elections, especially the ones that
held in the South South states, would have noticed that the nefarious MEND,
their pay masters and other unscrupulous elements in the region, have been
striving fruitlessly to exploit the ensuing confusion, by surreptitiously
working for the fulfillment of its yet-to-be declared political agenda. It is
our considered view that the statement in question is an off-shoot of that
ignoble plan; this time plotting to rubbish and torpedo the ongoing peace
efforts in the region.
While we believe that God Almighty would continue to protect the
former President against the evil machinations of these undesirable elements,
we wish to also point out that Jonathan is prepared to do anything within the
limit of our laws to ensure that he enjoys a well-deserved peaceful
post-Presidential life without any hindrance.
We are not under any illusion that more accusations and
allegations of this nature would not be hurled Jonathan’s way in the future,
especially as his enemies appear to have perfected the act of throwing mud each
time his profile gains added impetus and acclaim. But we are very positive that
he can never be fazed by such negative energy. Like the eagle, Dr. Ebele
Goodluck Jonathan will continue to soar over his traducers.
Signed
Ikechukwu Eze
Media Aide to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan
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