USA Africa Dialogue Series - MEND apologises for causing Abuja deaths

 

Dear All:

 

The MEND people are either psychopaths bent on rubbing salt into

the wounds of the victims and survivors of their deadly car bombs

in Abuja on October 1 or they are very dumb.

 

How can a group of rational human beings detonate bombs in

the middle of a parade and expect that no one will be hurt?

 

How can a group of rational human beings deliberately kill

innocent people and then turn around to apologize?

 

It is looking like the Abuja bomb incident might end up being a

referendum on the GEJ presidency. If he handles the investigation

well and  deals ruthlessly with the perpetrators, it is possible that he

might get to keep his job come May 29, 2011. However, if he does

not, and the signs are pointing in this direction, GEJ might

regretfully, not have what it takes to lead Nigeria at this time.

 

Terrorists can neither be cuddled nor handled with kids gloves.

The idea being promoted by GEJ that MEND is not a terrorist

organization falls flat in the face of the available facts:

 

1) Even though some MEND members have surrendered their  weapons,

there are still factions of MEND operating under the leadership of Mr Okah and others

in and out of Nigeria. This means that MEND is continuing its deadly

conflict with the FGN.

 

2) MEND issued a warning before the blast and has since claimed responsibility

 

So why is President Jonathan still absolving MEND of this heinous crime?

Why does he feel that MEND is not a terrorist organization?

 

3) Why has the FGN not requested for extradition of Mr Okah back to Nigeria

from South Africa?

 

Has kinship with a terrorist organization by government leaders anywhere

in the world ever been a deterrent to terrorist activities?

 

President Jonathan's statement that his home is a few yards from an

oil field and that no one can claim to be more  Niger Deltan than he is,

is probably the lamest reaction one can ever expect in these circumstances

from a head of state, whose citizens have just been killed in cold blood.

 

President Jonathan needs to speak less and let his actions speak

for him. So far his initial handling of the deadly attack

by MEND on innocent Nigerians on October 1st, 2011 leaves much to be desired.

The reaction of the FGN is lame!

 

Bye,

 

Ola

---- Original Message ----
From: toyin adepoju <toyin.adepoju@googlemail.com>
To: usaafricadialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>; Mwananchi@yahoogroups.com; naijapolitics@yahoogroups.com; Nidoa <nidoa@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sun, Oct 3, 2010 8:29 am
Subject: [NaijaPolitics] Fwd: [dandalin-siyasa] MEND apologises for causing Abuja deaths

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: shehu mustapha <shehuchaji@yahoo.com>
Date: 3 October 2010 13:26
Subject: [dandalin-siyasa] MEND apologises for causing Abuja deaths
To: dandalin-siyasa@yahoogroups.com

 

MEND apologises for causing Abuja deaths By Ayo Okulaja October 2, 2010 09:42PM

print email

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has apologised for causing the death of many people in the explosions which rocked the Federal capital yesterday.

In an email sent to journalists a moment ago, Jomo Gbomo, the spokesperson of the group, said the group "deeply regrets the avoidable loss of lives during our bomb attack in Abuja on Friday October 1, 2010. Our hearts go to the families of those killed who we know were sympathetic to our cause".

The group said the failure of security forces to heed a warning it had given five days before the attack is responsible for the deaths

"The irresponsible attitude of the government security forces is to blame for the loss of lives. They were given 5 days prior notice which led to the harassment of Henry Okah on Thursday, September 30 in South Africa."

It also claimed that an hour before the attack, security forces were reminded of the impending violence but failed to act. It said the email received by journalists a few minutes before the explosions was sent only after the one to security agents.

"The security forces were also warned one full hour to the first bomb blast ahead of the general alert sent to the media and told to steer the public from all parked cars which was not done."

The group's claim of responsibility for the attacks is coming hours after President Goodluck Jonathan said they were not responsible and blamed the explosions on terrorists.

Mr. Jonathan told an ECOWAS gathering in Abuja today that ``What happened yesterday was a terrorist act and MEND was just used as a straw; MEND is not a terrorist group".

"The Niger Delta people are aware of the government's noble efforts to assuage the suffering and deprivation in that region," the President said.

"I am from the Niger Delta, my father's house is few metres from an oil-well, so nobody can claim to be a Niger Deltan than myself.

"It is erroneous to think that my people who have been agitating for good living will deliberately blow up the opportunity they have now".

In a related development, Henry Okah, an alleged leader of the militant group, was arrested by South African police today and is being questioned.

On Thursday, Interpol forces raided Mr Okah's home in South Africa but no action was taken against him. It is not clear yet if he will be charged following his latest arrest.

However, the group has exonerated him of involvement in Friday's bombings that killed at least 12 people and injured tens of others. "Okah has never been involved in any MEND operations but has always been blamed for every attack which is strange to us," the group said.

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