The National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators (NCNDE-A) has alleged that the renewed hostilities being witnessed now in the region were planned in January last year ahead of the March 2015 presidential election.
The National President of NCNDE-A, Israel Akpodoro, who made the stunning accusation in a statement issued in Abuja, however, called on the former President to call members of the self acclaimed Niger Delta Avengers to order describing them as his boys.
Akpodoro was reacting to the renewed hostilities in the Niger Delta spearheaded by members of the Niger Delta Avengers who claimed responsibilities for blowing off oil and gas facilities in the oil-rich Delta state in recent times.
He noted that the hostilities witnessed now were planned by the immediate past administration in January last year before the presidential election.
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 administration.
Akpodoro revealed further that the threat was hatched at a well attended meeting called at the instance of a governor from the South South States in in January last year with all the prominent ex-militants including himself and senior officials of the former president.
The Urhobo-born ex-militant further stated that the message from them as delivered by the a Special Adviser to the President was that all ex-militants from the region should return to the creek preparatory for action should Maj. Gen. Buhari win the then coming election saying; that includes “what we are witnessing today in the actions of the Niger Delta Avengers.”
Akpodoro averred that he stood up to make his contribution by advising that the region and it’s people shouldn’t be thrown into crises as a result of one man’s ambition saying whoever won the then coming presidential election should be supported by all adding that at that juncture, rather than allow him continued his speech, he was ordered to be bundled out of the venue by the conveners of the meeting.
“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 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,” Akpodoro said, urging that “President Buhari should not relent in his military actions against those he described as enemies of peace in the region.
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