- MEND spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, accused Chief Clark of lying to State House correspondents that MEND was part of the parley with the federal government, when the group was not represented
- The group bashed Clark who they claimed had direct access to Jonathan, for not advising the former president to address the root issues and develop the Niger Delta region during his administration
- However, in reaction, Clark dismissed MEND’s allegations, stating that he was not seeking for any relevance and that MEND representatives were still attending meetings with them
Leaders of the Pan Niger Delta Forum including Chief Edwin Clark and HRH King Alfred Diete-Spiff, have been bashed for using the forum to seek political relevance and bounce back to life financially, by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).
According to reports, MEND made its comments in a statement signed by its spokesman Jomo Gbomo, on Sunday, August 13.
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We note that in the statement, the group announced that it was withdrawing as a member of PANDEF, while declaring that it was “annoying working with pretenders who conspired to keep silent when Goodluck Jonathan wasted the opportunity of the region.”
The statement read: “Our decision to abandon PANDEF stems from the commercial and political motives of the leaders and most of the members who now see the platform as a means to bounce back financially and politically.
“It is also as a result of the lie told by Chief Clark to State House correspondents after the PANDEF volte-face meeting with the Acting President on Thursday, August 3, 2017, where he said that MEND was part of the parley when the group was not represented.
“Today, the East West Road they have suddenly realized that is in need of urgent repairs is a shameful deathtrap which passes alongside oil wells and sits on top of huge gas reserves.
“PANDEF is demanding that the road should be completed but during the six wasted years, these same members used the dilapidated road, lost loved ones there but said nothing, engaging instead on worthless pleasures, with the Abuja residence of Chief Clark as the rallying point.
“Chief Clark who had direct access to his 'son' Goodluck Jonathan, did not advise the former President to address the root issues and develop the region.
“Many sons and daughters who enriched themselves, including the current PANDEF leaders have no single viable industry built in the Niger Delta to show for it.”
However, Clark dismissed the allegations saying, “A man of my age, what political relevance am I seeking? To become what? To become President of Nigeria or to become Governor of Delta State or to become a Senator which I have been?
“That’s very irresponsible. They (MEND) don’t exist.
“Their own representatives whom they sent to us and had been attending meeting on their behalf are still with us.
“Who are the people that are withdrawing? Is it Charles or Henry Okah who are in prison? We don’t want to take issues with them.”
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Meanwhile, We previously reported that a group, the New Niger Delta Emancipation Coalition, gave reasons why elder statesman Edwin Clark should be punished by the federal government.
The group in a statement signed by its spokesperson Lucky Humphrey, said the elder statesman must be punished alongside militants under the aegis of Niger Delta Avengers.
According to the group, Clark and the militants that he has described as his children have set the region behind in terms of development.
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