Date Published: 10/26/09

Our next strike 'll depend on Yar'Adua, says MEND

THE aggrieved wing of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) that refused to kiss the amnesty deal of President Umaru Yar'Adua which expired on October 4, 2009, says their next line of action will depend on how the president hadles the window of opportunity they have given him for talks.

MEND said the core issues of resource control and ownership, socio-economic and environmental justice are yet to be addressed by the Nigerian state.

Spokesman of the insurgent group, Jomo Gbomo, however, expressed hope that government was favourable disposed to dialogue with them. ''That is why we announced indefinite ceasefire on Saturday'', he said.

According to MEND, ''on Tuesday, October 20, 2009,  the Federal Government of Nigeria expressed its readiness to engage in serious and meaningful dialogue with every group or individual towards achieving a lasting peace in the Niger Delta.

''This welcome shift in position conveyed to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) by Mr. Henry Okah after his meeting with President Umaru Yar'Adua on Monday, October 19, 2009 indicated the willingness of the government to negotiate with the MEND Aaron team.''

Continuing, they added, ''to encourage the process of dialogue between the government and the team that MEND has selected to negotiate its demands for a lasting peace in the Niger Delta region, an indefinite ceasefire has been ordered and takes effect from 0000Hrs, Sunday, October 25, 2009.

''The Aaron Team has been modified with the exit of Ms. Annkio Briggs by mutual consent. She has been replaced as the groups liaison with immediate effect by Mr. Amagbe Denzel Kentebe.''