News
MEND Hired To Kill Me – Jonathan …As Group Restates Support For Buhari
The Presidency yesterday alleged that members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta made attempts to kill President Goodluck Jonathan on two occasions.
It said on the two instances, members of the group launched “murderous assaults” on places where the President was present.
The Presidency made the allegation in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, in which it warned the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), to be weary of the group’s recent endorsement of his candidature.
Although the Presidency did not disclose when and where the two attempts were made on Jonathan’s life, it will be recalled that the group launched an attack near the Eagles Square venue of the nation’s 50th independence anniversary in 2010.
Jonathan and some visiting Heads of State were present when bombs were detonated near the venue.
Abati said the Presidency had noted with amusement, the vituperation against Jonathan by “the renegade faction” of the group headed by the convicted terrorist, Henry Okah, in a statement issued to endorse Buhari.
He said the latest assault on the President by Okah and his stooges did not come as a surprise, but rather an expected one.
The statement read in part, “While we thank all people of the Niger Delta, including the former militants whom MEND claims to represent, who have already disassociated themselves from the statement issued by the faceless Jomo Gbomo and reaffirmed their unflinching support for President Jonathan’s re-election, we will like to state that the latest assault on the President by Henry Okah and his stooges did not come as a surprise to us at all.
“It was very much to be expected, coming as it did from an individual and group who have never hidden their vengeful personal animosity against the President and who have even gone to the extent of launching murderous assaults on venues at which the President was present on two occasions,”it said.
Meanwhile, despite the criticisms trailing its endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Maj. Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has insisted that it will support the APC flag bearer.
MEND had on Wednesday declared that it would support Buhari for presidential poll, alleging that President Goodluck Jonathan had not lived up to the expectation of Nigerians, a position that did not go down well with the Peoples Democratic Party and the Ijaw Youth Council.
The PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, queried APC’s link with MEND, the IYC, through its Publicity Secretary, Eric Omare, reportedly described MEND as a ghost.But MEND, in a statement by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, yesterday via e-mail, described Metuh’s position on its (MEND) support for Buhari as callous and irresponsible.
The Niger Delta militant group explained that the reaction of the PDP further confirmed its (MEND) views about Jonathan’s inept government.
MEND, however, pointed out that its endorsement of Buhari did not mean that it had any link with the APC, adding that contrary to Metuh’s view, it (MEND) had never been approached by the party.
It described Buhari as the man that would lead Nigeria out of its state of calamity in the hand of the current leadership.
It added, “MEND strongly denies any link with the All Progressives Congress and has never been approached for anything, at any point in time, by the party, as pettily alleged by Olisa Metuh.
“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta stands strongly by our endorsement and full support of General Muhammadu Buhari as the man to lead the country out of its present calamitous state in the hands of Goodluck Jonathan.
“MEND finds it laughable the recent statement by Mr Eric Omare, the Publicity Secretary of a mere tribal assembly and political praise singers, known as the Ijaw Youth Council, stating that ‘MEND is a ghost’. We clearly understand their frustration at our stance as it obviously came as a shock to them.
“Nigerians should ask this man (Eric Omare) if he was referring to ‘ghosts’ when he lauded MEND for declaring a temporary ceasefire six months ago.”
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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