MEND Pulls Out From PANDEF, Knocks Clark, Diete-Spiff

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)said it had pulled out from the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), another association from the area hreaded by elder statesman, edwin Clark.
MEND did on Sunday, August 13 in a statement signed by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo.
Gbomo said: “Our decision to abandon PANDEF stems from the commercial and political motives of the leaders and most of the members, who now see the platform as a means to bounce back financially and politically.
“It is also as a result of the lie told by Chief Clark to State House correspondents after the PANDEF volte-face meeting with the Acting President on Thursday, August 3, 2017, where he said that MEND was part of the parley when the group was not represented.
“MEND has also lost confidence in the effete leadership of Chief Edwin Clark and HRH, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, who like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, still crave for power, wealth and pleasure to the detriment of developing the younger generation in leadership.”
The statement continued: “It is annoying working with pretenders who conspired to keep silent when Goodluck Jonathan wasted the opportunity of the region and were part of the conspiracy to suppress the voice of Henry Okah and MEND.
“Today, the East West road they have suddenly realised that is in need of urgent repairs is a shameful deathtrap, which passes alongside oil wells and sits on top of huge gas reserves.
“PANDEF is demanding for the road to be completed, but during the six wasted years, these same members used the dilapidated road, lost loved ones there and said nothing, engaging instead on worthless pleasures, with the Abuja residence of Chief Clark as the rallying point.
“Chief Clark, who had direct access to his ‘son’, Goodluck Jonathan did not advice the former President to address the root issues and develop the region. Many sons and daughters, who enriched themselves, including the current PANDEF leaders, have no single viable industry built in the Niger Delta to show for it.
“The assets they have acquired are now forfeited to the region or the EFCC. Those ill-gotten assets cleverly hidden from the EFCC that we discover will be attacked and burnt to the ground.” MEND maintained: “The Niger Delta is today blessed with private, State, and Federal University presence; including a Maritime Academy in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, which was established in the early 80s.
“One begins to wonder if the desperation and insistence of another similar university as a top priority by PANDEF is not just a ploy to cover-up an established financial crime.
“MEND will in the interim align with the new Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, under Barrister Oweilaemi and will continue disdaining the old impostors claiming to be IYC.
“We will also cooperate with the Niger Delta People’s Congress, NDPC, and genuine militants desiring change such as the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, which have shown consistency in doing away with the old order.”
Meanwhile, PANDEF has condemned reports credited to the so-called Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators’ of its plan to attack oil facilities.
The PANDEF’s condemnation came in a statement by its Coordinating Secretary, Dr. Alfred Mulade, on Sunday in Warri. Mulade said there was no basis for the threat by the faceless group adding that the statement was most irresponsible, and should be discountenanced.
According to Mulade, PANDEF met recently with the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo on a number of problems bedeviling the Niger Delta region.
He wondered why some elements would want to truncate good efforts made so far by the forum for the attainment of peace and sustainable development in the oil-rich region.
He said the Forum had scheduled a meeting with “relevant stakeholders in the next few days to discuss the various agreements reached with the acting President.”
“PANDEF condemns a media report credited to certain faceless Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators planned attacks of oil facilities by September 10, and asking Northerners and Yorubas to quit the Niger Delta Region before October 1, 2017.
This call is coming at a time when PANDEF leadership and stakeholders had a very useful meeting with Acting President, Prof. Osinbajo few days ago at the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Niger Delta.
“Indeed, this group should know that there is no basis for this kind of action; it is most irresponsible, and should be discountenanced.”
“PANDEF therefore wishes to advise all law abiding persons from any section of the country, irrespective of tribe or political affiliation, to remain calm, and go about their lawful endearvours,” Mulade said.
He also urged the Niger Delta people to remain calm, patient and patriotic.