The Reformed Niger Delta
Avengers, RNDA, in coalition with nine other militant groups, last night vowed
to plunge Nigeria into another economic recession if urgent steps were not
taken to address issues facing the region.
The militants said they would
resume attacks that will further deepen the nation’s woes if the Nigerian
government continued to explore oil from their region without developing it.
RNDA in a statement by its
convener and self-acclaimed “Major General” John Mark Ezonbi, also announced
the lifting of the suspension placed on former Federal Commissioner for
Information and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Chief Edwin Clark.
Ezonbi said, “Nigerians should
not celebrate the Federal Government’s claim that the nation had come out
recession because it is too early as RNDA in coalition with other militant
groups is ready to resume fresh attacks on oil installations across the region
in a well-coordinated attack that will further deepen the nation’s economic
woes judging from the fact that one of the indices used in measuring Nigeria’s
outage from recession was crude oil.
“The Federal Government should
not take the two week ultimatum that is still counting, which we earlier issued
to convey a fresh talk with the Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress, PNDPC,
headed by the paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom, HM Pere Charles Ayemi Botu
for granted and should blame itself for any harm done to oil facilities in the
Niger Delta at the expiration of the ultimatum.
“RNDA in coalition with nine
other militant groups, led by Major General John Mark Ezonbi at a crucial
meeting held at the creeks of Benin River expressed its readiness to carry out
its threat to bring down crude oil productions to zero level, which accompanied
its ultimatum to the Federal Government.
“RNDA has withdrawn the one- week
ultimatum given to the leader of the disbanded PANDEF leader, Chief E K Clark
and one Alfred Mulade, self- styled Coordinating Secretary of PANDEF, following
pleas from well- respected stakeholders since they failed to come out to state
categorically the militants that gave them the mandate to dialogue on behalf of
the region.”
“Nobody apologized to Clark as
insinuated by Mulade in a national daily, rather it is Clark that has called
different people and begging them to support his disbanded leadership of
PANDEF,” the militants said.
“We wish to emphasize that Obong
Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State has lost touch with reality in
the region, and he is supposed to be hiding his face in shame for mismanaging
the resources of the state under his eight years miserable rule, despite the
huge federal allocations.
“It was Senator Godswill Akpabio
who turned Akwa state around in terms of development; somebody like Attah
should not have the temerity to dialogue for the region under any guise when he
had the instrument of government to turn Akwa Ibom to paradise, but he did not.
“It is only a matter of time they
will all pay for their sins against the Niger Delta region, Attah and those old
brigade in PANDEF misused resources earmarked for the development of the region
when they occupied the offices since the early 70s that would have added value
to the face of the long neglected region more so PANDEF is no longer the
authentic voice to speak for the region but PNDPC,” they said.