Former President Goodluck Jonathan has
dismissed as malicious a statement linking
him to the militant group, Niger Delta
Avengers (NDA), which has claimed
responsibility for numerous attacks on oil
facilities as well as employees of oil
companies in the Niger Delta.
A splinter group, Reformed Niger Delta
Avengers (RNDA), which recently split from
the NDA, had issued a statement earlier today
alleging that former President Jonathan was
the “grand patron” of the violent group, NDA.
Speaking briefly to our correspondent from
Zambia, where he is scheduled to monitor
elections next week, Mr. Jonathan dismissed
the list released by Cynthia Whyte, an alias
for the spokesman of RNDA.
Former President Jonathan said he would
soon issue a formal statement, but clarified
that he was in no way tied to the NDA. Asked
if President Muhammadu Buhari had invited
him to help broker peace in the oil-producing
zone, Mr. Jonathan said he had received no
formal request from his successor.
However, he said he was aware that Ijaw
elder, Edwin Clark, was working informally to
help restore stability in the area.
Former President Jonathan said he did not
wish to trade words with “Cynthia Whyte.”
He stated that the names of those listed as
alleged sponsors and supporters of NDA
suggested that a political agenda informed
the composition of the list.
He asserted that there was absolutely no truth
to the allegation that he was backing the NDA
or any other militant group in the Niger Delta
or anywhere else.
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