Linking Jonathan to NDA Provocative, Says South-south Forum

Bassey Inyang in Calabar
A group, South-South Solidarity Forum, has described as provocativem attempts to link former President Goodluck Jonathan with the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

According to the group, the alleged probe by security agencies which mentioned Jonathan’s name in connection with the activities of the militant group was a deliberate mischief that could threaten the corporate existence of the country.

Rising from a stakeholders’ meeting in Calabar yesterday, National President of the South-South Solidarity Forum, Dr. Bassey Umoh, told journalists that Jonathan does not deserve the numerous criticisms that had trailed his administration since he handed over power to President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2015.

“This allegation of linking the former president to the NDA militants is baseless and it is incongruous with the well acclaimed peaceful and highly patriotic disposition of Jonathan.
“Linking him therefore, to a militant group is highly mischievous and provocative. “The insinuation of the security probe is the contraption of those who want to fulfill the wicked plot to break up Nigerian,” Umoh said.

Umoh stated that the forum was concerned that despite the economic difficulty the nation was passing through, there was rising wave of terrorism in the northern part of the country, and that Christians in that region have become  deliberate targets of such attacks.
The forum therefore, urged Buhari to address the brewing tension in the region by curbing further spread of religious hostilities.

Continuing, Umoh said: “We equally condemn in strong terms, the renewed attacks on Christians in the North at the slightest instinct and the unabated invasion of Christian communities by the so called Fulani herdsmen. The seeming inactions by the authorities beyond mere rhetoric, coupled with grazing bill are fuelling apprehension that there is a real plot to Islamise Nigeria.
“The recent declaration by the new leadership of Boko Haram to target only Christians is a serious concern. The outcome of a continuous act of such assaults can only be catastrophic has given everyman the instinct for self preservation.

“We therefore call on Mr. President to take urgent steps to douse this tension in order to restore the hope of one Nigerian nation. He should ignore those urging him to maintain iron fist and embrace true dialogue. He should consider the complexity of the Nigeria state and pay listening ears to the call for restructuring of the country which may bring about better co-existence.”