Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has denied allegations that he is one of the leaders of the Niger Delta promoting militancy in the region.
This came as Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being responsible for the allegations that he himself has links with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
In another statement issued on Sunday by the media aide to Jonathan, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan said his attention had been drawn to “a malicious claim by a shadowy group which calls itself the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) to the effect that many notable Ijaw and other Niger Delta leaders and elders, especially those perceived not to be too close to the powers that be, are the alleged sponsors of the current crises in the Niger Delta.”
He said, “For the avoidance of doubt, we are fully convinced that such an idiotic claim is too cheap a narrative, a facile contrivance so badly concocted that any discerning mind would easily see through its disingenuous and duplicitous nature.”
He said while the former president was not bothered by the baseless accusation because of “Jonathan’s widely-acknowledged sincere disposition to peace, non-violence and better human community, he was disturbed by the re-appearance of ‘Cynthia White’, “who had in the past served as the spokesperson for a notorious group that had all along shown its hand to be going after the life of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan”.
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PRESS RELEASE BY GOVERNOR WIKE
“Our attention has been drawn to yet another false media propaganda being circulated by the paid official false agents of the APC wherein they claimed that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is one of the sponsors of the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers. …
We unequivocally deny this false report fabricated by SaharaReporters with the aim of diverting attention from the superlative performance of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. Any close observer of the APC propaganda machine, where SaharaReporters play an ignoble role would have noticed that all they do is concoct lies about Rivers State.
We urge all well meaning persons to disregard this current falsehood credited to a faceless splinter group of NDA . This falsehood may not be unconnecte to Governor Wike’s speech at the just concluded conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors where he publicly declared that he and other stakeholders in the state have prevented militant groups from sabotaging oil installations as is the case elsewhere. Not happy with this declaration, SaharaReporters resolved to concoct another ill- conceived report trying to mislead the people.
Nigerians already know SaharaReporters and what they represent. They represent retrogression , deliberate falsehood under-development and biased unprofessional journalism. Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is a patriotic leader, committed to the sustenance and improvement of the nation’s democracy and economy.
He is a promoter of security and good governance. He cannot be disparaged by concocted publications from APC media agents. It is high time SaharaReporters, he sponsors and other APC media agents realised that Nigerians have come to terms with their ugly game.”
Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers Stat Governor ,
Electronic Media.