We Have Not Nominated Soyinka, Others to Head Our Dialogue Team—Niger Delta Avengers

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) weekend said it has not nominated any personality, including Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, to lead its dialogue team with the Federal Government.

It described the report that the militant group had put forward Soyinka as the head of its contact in dialogue with the Federal Government as a lie of the century.

According to a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, NDA said it was amazed that Soyinka has been taken by the jugular by enemies of the region because of his restructuring stance and need to heed the Niger Delta agitations positively.

“We are amazed that Prof. Wole Soyinka, has been taken on the jugular by enemies of the Niger Delta because of his belief that the government of the day should understand the need to restructuring and listen to the Niger Delta agitation positively”, it added.

The group also accused the Okah brothers, both of whom are serving time in Nigeria and South Africa prisons, of using disorganised characters from the Niger Delta region to impress the “powers that be at Abuja.”

NDA, while reiterating its support for the Chief Edwin Clark-led Niger Delta Elders and Stakeholders conference committee to lead the pan Niger Delta negotiations/dialogue team, stated that it is ready for talks whenever the federal government is ready.

“The NDA cannot be teleguided by Mr Charles Okah and Henry Okah from their respective prison cells using disorganised characters of the All Progressive Congress (APC), from the Niger Delta to impress Abuja,” the group said.

The militant group said further: “We are not unaware of the creations of the Nigerian intelligentsia community and security apparatus to sustain the Niger Delta struggle to bloat their pocket and credibility.

“We are amazed that Prof. Wole Soyinka, has been taken on the jugular by enemies of the Niger Delta because of his belief that the government of the day should understand the need to restructuring and listen to the Niger Delta agitation positively.

“That if, we the NDA have named Prof Wole Soyinka and some incredible names to advise and lead any group is the Lie of The Century! They says, when an handshake goes beyond the elbow it has turned to another thing; amazingly, the handwriting are so clear that our noble laureate name is going the infamous way, as he is being named along as an adviser with some unscrupulous characters as Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) dialogue team with the government of Nigeria.”

“Putting the records straight; the name/names parading as factions of the Niger Delta Avengers are just the figment of some persons protecting their jobs and hell bent on derailing the wheel of progress in the history of Nigeria and the Niger Delta agitation”, it added.

The militant group declared: “Our strike teams and command structures have not at anytime contacted these Nigerians at any time to advise or lead any contact with the government of Muhammadu Buhari on the Niger Delta agitation.

“We have shown our respect and restraints to personalities that have been too fixated to impress Abuja in the name of the Niger Delta struggle since the beginning of “Operation Red Economy ” ignorantly or willingly.

“We are not unaware of the creations of the Nigerian Intelligentsia community and security apparatus to sustain the Niger Delta struggle to bloat their pocket and credibility.”