MEND’s adoption of Buhari inconsequential – Ijaw youths

Ijaw youths on Wednesday dismissed the endorsement of the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), describing it as inconsequential.
The youths under the aegis of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Worldwide, said Buhari’s adoption by a non-existent group was of no electoral value.

The group in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Mr. Eric Omare, said MEND was an empty organisation since it was disbanded after its members and former agitators accepted amnesty.
Omare said all the ex-agitators from the region were behind the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The statement said, “The adoption of Gen. Buhari by the present MEND is inconsequential and of no electoral value as election is won by votes cast by physical and verifiable human beings.
“The real Niger-Delta freedom fighters are in support of President Jonathan’s second term ambition as demonstrated in the massive rally they held in his support at Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State in November 2014 under the leadership of Alhaji Asari Dokubo, Pastor Reuben and others.
“Furthermore, the Niger-Delta people are solidly behind President Jonathan’s re-election bid as we believe that he has performed creditably during his first term and deserves a second term in office.
“The injustice against the people of the Niger-Delta which led to the agitation was foisted on them through the successive administration of people from the born to rule clan of Gen. Buhari.
“Hence, it is a contradiction for the so called MEND which claimed to be fighting for the Niger-Delta region to adopt the continuation of the injustice against the Niger-Delta region.”