Militants Expose PDP's Rigging Plan For 2011

Militants Expose PDP's Rigging Plan For 2011

AN alleged behind the curtain political deal between some leaders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Commanders of the dreaded Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), an insurgent group in the country's oil and gas region, ended in a fiasco yesterday.

Spokesman of the insurgents, Jomo Gbomo, in an on-line statement yesterday to our correspondent claimed that some representatives of the PDP in a secret meeting with their commanders in the early hours of yesterday proposed ''a robust monetary and amnesty incentive if MEND promises to assist the party in securing the 2011 gubernatorial election in the Niger Delta region''.

According to the group, under the plan; MEND will embrace the amnesty offer by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, demobilize and return a limited number of weapons under a buy-back programme which will be publicly advertised but giving the public the impression it has disarmed 100 percent.

Continuing, Gbomo said their Leader, Henry Okah, who is currently facing treason charges in camera and the other freedom fighters will be released, adding, ''MEND will get monthly agreed financial payments into the next 2011 administration as security consultants including lucrative oil and gas contracts''.

That is not all. MEND, according to its spokesman, ''will mobilize its fighters to assist the Joint Task Force (JTF) during the 2011 election in rigging votes and commandeering ballot boxes. MEND should work closely with the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), the Delta State Waterways Security, JTF and the Niger Delta governors to perfect the plan''.

Apparently not willing to play ball, Gbomo said, ''the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta rejects this evil agenda by the PDP and its cohorts and vows never to sell the birth right of the peoples of the Niger Delta for a bowl of porridge''.

''MEND will not involve itself in political thuggery and compromise its core values for short term gains. Our focus remains the emancipation of the impoverished people of the region through the control of our resources and fiscal federalism'', the group added.

They went on, ''we have resolved to suffer persecution and imprisonment instead for the sake of justice and reiterate once again our position to only a peace process that involves the United Nations, a free Henry Okah and reputable international mediators''.

ENDS

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