THE National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, NCNDE-A, has accused former President Goodluck Jonathan of founding the new militant group known as Niger Delta Avengers.The NCNDE-A claimed that the group was formed in January last year ahead of the March 2015 presidential election, which Jonathan eventually lost to Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.
The National President of NCNDE-A, Israel Akpodoro, who made this shocking revelation in Abuja on Friday, urged the former President to call members of the self acclaimed Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, to order.
According to him, “the Niger Delta Avengers is a creation of the ex-president aimed at thwarting any efforts made by successive administration especially that of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC, administration.”
He further revealed that the threat was planed at a well-attended meeting called at the instance of a governor from the South South region in January last year with all the prominent ex-militants including Jonathan and some of his close pals in attendance.
Akpodoro claimed that the message from them as delivered by the a Special Adviser to the President then was that all ex-militants from the region should return to the creek preparatory for action should Gen. Buhari win the then coming election saying; that includes “what we are witnessing today in the actions of the Niger Delta Avengers.”
He warned his kinsmen against risking their lives for the political interest of one man.
He said, “I was bundled out of the meeting but then that is realities of what Nigerians are witnessing today.
“The former President created the monster-Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, and he alone can call them to order and that is what my group is asking him to do.
“Nigerians should hold the Ijaw leader responsible for any possible collateral damage that may be incurred in the process of exterminating that destructive rag tag group with all its sympathisers in the region.
“Our common enemies in the Niger Delta region are those governors, ministers, Special Advisers, Director Generals, Senators and other representatives from the region who participated in government and use their offices to enrich themselves at the detriment of general good.
“We must redirect our anger to those who cornered the dividends of democracy in the region buying fleet of aeroplanes, building mansions in choices cities of the world…while their people live in abject poverty.
“President Buhari isn’t our problem but our leaders from the region.
“President Buhari should not relent in his military actions against those he described as enemies of peace in the region,” he added.