The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), has condemned in strong terms the persistent feud between the governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara and his predecessor and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.
The spokesman of the movement, Jomo Gbomo, in a statement explained that they would not be forced to attack any oil installation in the Niger Delta region following the political crises in the state, asuuring that they would safeguard government assets in the interest of the nation.
According to him, the group is ready to support security operatives in safeguarding crude oil installations from attacks.
Gbomo said, “MEND condemns the threat to crude oil facilities in Niger Delta by some ex-militants and agitators in the region, the group will not support violence associated with political disputes between Wike, and Fubara.”
He observed that the threat to the economy of the country over a political dispute between two politicians who were allies is unfortunate, adding that more so, both politicians are sons of the Niger Delta and cannot in the present circumstance be tricked into carrying arms against the Nigerian state on behalf of any of them, not even for any price.
As an Ijaw son, he said that he knows the gains of having an Ijaw man as governor in Rivers an achievement which would not have been possible but for collaboration of other ethnic groups, stressing that the healthy collaboration from the various ethnic groups which produced an Ijaw son as governor was spearheaded by the FCT Minister.
On that note, he stated that they shall, therefore, offer full cooperation to the security operatives so as to ensure that individuals or groups constituting threat to smooth crude oil exploration are alongside their sponsors brought to book, saying, “lf you are going for a revenge, you better dig two graves, one for yourself and one for your enemy, a word is enough for the wise.”
Gbomo appealed to the elders and traditional institutions in the region to genuinely intervene in the lingering political crises in the state towards ensuring peaceful and harmonious relationship.