The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger
Delta (MEND) has given conditions for the
inclusion of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) in its
negotiating team for the proposed dialogue with
Federal Government towards the resolution of the
latest crisis in the Niger Delta.
The conditions were announced in a statement
issued by the group on Thursday. MEND, explained
the statement, took the decision to have the NDA
included in its peace effort after observing that the
group is willing to embrace dialogue.
That willingness, said MEND, could be gleaned from
an exclusive interview granted by the NDA and
published by Vanguard on 11 July.
“After an in-depth study and thorough analysis of
the interview, MEND is glad to note that the NDA
have finally, welcomed dialogue on the Niger Delta
question as the only credible and sustainable
solution to the festering Niger Delta question.
“With this development, it has become more
imperative for the entire Niger Delta region to unite
and speak with a single voice under a single
umbrella in the forthcoming dialogue on the Niger
Delta question with the Government of President
Muhammadu Buhari. “The single umbrella is
the MEND Aaron Team 2 Peace Initiative, headed by
Mr. Odein Ajumogobia ( SAN),” declared MEND.
The group added that it has received firm
assurances from the Federal Government about its
readiness to dialogue with the Aaron Team. This,
MEND explained, has created a desire to expand
the representational capacity of the Aaron Team to
accommodate the (NDA). The group, however, gave
terms to be met.
The first of these, said MEND, is that the NDA must
publicly renounce all forms of violence through an
unconditional ceasefire.
“By virtue of the extant provisions of the
Presidential Amnesty Proclamation of 2009, all
Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) fighters and
commanders who agree to ceasefire are
automatically entitled to benefit from the
Presidential Amnesty Programme after due
diligence and documentation by the office of the
National Security Adviser and the Presidential
Amnesty office headed by Brigadier General Paul
Boroh (rtd),” MEND stated.
Second, demanded MEND, is the NDA must publicly
declare full allegiance to the country and recognise
Buhari as the country’s President and Commander-
in- Chief. The third condition listed offers the NDA
the opportunity to nominate one delegate to
represent the group and articulate its demands.
In addition, MEND demanded that the NDA must
make a public declaration to abide by the outcome
of the proposed dialogue between the Federal
Government and the Aaron Team 2 Initiative.
Should the NDA agree to the terms listed and
communicate its agreement within seven
days from 15 July, MEND concluded, it will be
regarded as a genuine partner in the Niger Delta
struggle.
