THE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND, Monday, disowned, the threat, last week, purportedly by the group, to tear apart Nigeria over the conviction of Henry Okah for terrorism in South Africa.

One Comrade Azizi, in a statement, last Wednesday, supposedly on behalf of MEND, said the group would collapse the country, adding that massive earthquake would be triggered with nuclear warheads to destroy oil wells, oil pipelines and refineries.


However, MEND’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, in an electronic mail rebutting the claim said, The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to advise Nigerians and the media to disregard the pathetic attempt at propaganda by a so-called Comrade Azizi and his statements, which are not authentic and statements emanating from MEND.”

His words, “As claimed by this Comrade Azizi, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) would like to clarify the following:”

Mr Henry Okah is NOT and has never been viewed as the leader or founder of MEND, but rather known as a sympathiser and supporter of our cause

Our fighters are freedom fighters who are fighting for justice, the emancipation of the Niger Delta and control of our God- given resources and not assassins, as stated by this so-called Comrade Azizi

Our struggle is NOT and has never been about the disintegration of Nigeria or a North and South fight as stated by this so-called Comrade Azizi

“With regards to the trial, judgement and sentencing of Henry Okah and other Niger- Delta indigenes, we will issue a full formal statement in due course stating our views and plans for the future,” the statement added.

He said, “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) would once again strongly urge Nigerians and the media to disregard any statement from this person.”

In a controversial statement with reference number, MEND/QTD/82MP/2013, dated January 23, entitled, “Conviction of our leader and founder, Mr. Henry Okah”, Comrade Azizi said, “ We witnessed ourselves firsthand the conviction of our dear leader yesterday the 21st of January 2013 by the South African Supreme Court on all the 13th count charges which as we all know has to do with ASO ROCK politic on a man simply because he refused to be bought over.”

“Before yesterday’s ruling, we had high regards for the South African judiciary but not now as we were wrong on our previous assessment nevertheless, people pays for mistakes committed by others so we the High Command of MEND have an advice for the South African people, which is TELL YOUR GOVERNMENT through your judiciary stay away with events that happened in Nigeria or else some South Africans will pay dearly for it.

“To the Nigerian military (The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta) don’t bother for now placing officers on alert, we will not bomb nor kill anybody for the time being, as we had communicated months back, we no long require IED or car bombs as we’ve gone pass that stage. Nigerians as a whole will feel our presence when we finally decide to carry out our targets which will not be restricted to the Niger Delta Region alone.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/henry-okah-mend-disowns-threat-to-crumble-nigeria/