WARRI- TWO Itsekiri and Urhobo leaders in Delta State, Chief Ayirimi Emami and Olorogun Egbo Jaro, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari rebuff the attempt by some members of the splintered Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND, led by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, to distract him from probing the Amnesty programme.

Chief Emami in a terse statement, said, “Some of us are against the meeting because it is uncalled for. For the last six years when Tompolo enjoyed juicy contracts from Federal Government through NIMASA, pipeline surveillance, maritime security and other forms of undue favours, why did he not convene such a meeting? I must use this opportunity to stress once more that Niger Delta does not belong to one ethnic nationality.”

“Members of the fractured MEND have been granted amnesty long ago by the Federal Government and whatever the agenda of that meeting would be should be disregarded by the Buhari administration, which has shown absolute focus. People like us are determined to give the Buhari administration total support.

“All the speculation of tomorrow (today) meeting being convened to agitate for the payment of monthly stipends of ex-militants is to distract the Buhari administration from probing the amnesty programme so as not to expose the financial irregularities and lopsidedness of the amnesty programme,” he asserted.

National leader, Urhobo Nationality Council, UNC, Olorgoun Jaro Egbo, stated, “The Urhobo ethnic nationality of Niger Delta are seriously against the purported meeting of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta , MEND, as it is self-serving, misconceived and likely to bring the peace we now enjoy into disarray.”

“We must strongly warn the so-called commanders of MEND that their properties in Urhobo land will be in serious jeopardy if they go ahead with the meeting. We fully support the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

“The Urhobo will resist any attempt by MEND and their co-travelers if they resort to arms,” he added.

Chief Emami in a terse statement, said, “Some of us are against the meeting because it is uncalled for. For the last six years when Tompolo enjoyed juicy contracts from Federal Government through NIMASA, pipeline surveillance, maritime security and other forms of undue favours, why did he not convene such a meeting? I must use this opportunity to stress once more that Niger Delta does not belong to one ethnic nationality.”

Chief Emami in a terse statement, said, “Some of us are against the meeting because it is uncalled for. For the last six years when Tompolo enjoyed juicy contracts from Federal Government through NIMASA, pipeline surveillance, maritime security and other forms of undue favours, why did he not convene such a meeting? I must use this opportunity to stress once more that Niger Delta does not belong to one ethnic nationality.”