"These eminent persons will be known as the Aaron Team and have our mandate to oversee a transparent and proper MEND disarmament process," the group said in an emailed statement.

"The MEND disarmament process will only come after the root causes of militancy and agitation in the Niger Delta have been addressed by the Nigerian government," it said.

But following a meeting between President Umaru Yar'Adua, the governors of the main states in the Niger Delta, and security chiefs, the government repeated its position that militants must lay down weapons before any talks could be held.

"MEND is not recognised by the federal government as the spokesperson for the militants, that is if they exist at all physically," Defence Minister and chairman of a presidential amnesty committee Godwin Abbe told reporters after the meeting.

"If MEND decides to test the will of government and choose to threaten the very existent of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the government is prepared to express the sovereignty of Nigeria in all its ramifications," he said

Beaf:

There may be trouble ahead. In the meantime, God bless Tompolo and Ateke.

http://www.reuters.com/article/africaCrisis/idUSLT717249

Beaf:

What proof do you have that they are criminals? Or have you constituted a kangaroo court?

Does Nigeria need any help toward destruction? Is a country that bombs innocent people at a festival not destroying itself? Maybe you are proud of the current Nigeria; I am not. The country does not value me neither does it value my people. It hates us.

Next thing, you will say Wole Soyinka is so daft that he is negotiating on behalf of "criminals".

God bless Tompolo and Ateke.

babapupa:

Why is Soyinka messing up his name and reputation by messing with murderers and cold blooded killers?

PapaBrowne:

Ateke Tom might be a criminal, but Tompolo is not.

Just for information:
Something strange is happenning in the Niger Delta.
Looks like the Military is planning something mean after October 4th.
They've begun placing sandbags all over the place. In the creeks. they built some strange kind of platforms.
I don't know why they can't see that anytime they increase force, the Emancipation militants grow stronger.

just like God use cyrus the persian, to free his people, he can also use criminals to free Nd. seconded, God bless ateke, and co, tompolo remains a patriot for life, my people this is just a stage in the quest for freedom, and criminal and patriots alike are welcome, alcapone and co worked for the us govt in world war 2, so give us a break about criminals, che guvera and fidel castro were one time in their lives label criminals. we are watching.

babapupa:

Why is Soyinka messing up his name and reputation by messing with murderers and cold blooded killers?

babapupa:


this is what self serving, self centered and selfish people spew. if na your own mama, papa, brothers and sisters mend slaughtered like dogs, na different song you go dey sing. but hey, it matters not to you as long as no be you and your people dey die and the criminals and crooks responsible for  looting and stealing you dry were let go and their blood replaced with innocent people's blood,

enjoy your end with innocent people's blood.


karma is a beesh,

mbulela:

I have proof that he is just a slightly higher classed criminal than Ateke.
They are all one and the same.

babapupa:

Look at this ode?

what's criminality, cold blooded killing of innocent people got to do with tribalism?

must you people hide under tribalism at every turn and corner?

abi it's not on record that that mend kidnapped and killed innocent Nigerians.

where is the tribalism. I know how you guys play the tribalism game, but please try make sense sometimes,

If na your own people the Military slaughtered like dogs, na different song you go dey sing. But it matters not to you since the innocent and oppressed people of the Delta are not your people.

Karma is a two way street and it is beesh both ways!!

udezue:

go wole soyinka. he is one man that always speaks for the people

SMH -you have no shame at all one day you are blasting yorubas, the next you are praising yoruba leaders

PapaBrowne:

So you have proof?? How about proof that all the military boys that are sent to the creeks are not criminals? Or proof that the Nigerian state is not run by criminals?

“Some eminent Nigerians have graciously accepted to dialogue on behalf of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) with the Federal Government of Nigeria whenever the government realizes the need to adopt serious, meaningful dialogue as a means to halting the violent agitation in the Niger Delta,” Mr Gbomo said.

The Nigerians announced by MEND as its interlocutors include former chief of general staff, Okhai Mike Akhigbe; Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka; Luke Kakadu Aprezi, a retired general and and Sabella Ogbobode Abidde, a US based political commentator.

I take it that this is your weak attempt to reply me.
Have I accused anybody else but YOU as a "tribalist" or a hater of ND people? You and Sjeezy have proven yourselves over and over.

I'll never take their course seriously or accord it any form of credibility till they go after the enemies within, the crooks and looters.

babapupa:

I have nothing against ND or any other group of people in Nigeria. I just detest shedding of innocent people's/fellow citizen's blood to achieve a bogus and non credible end.

How about the crooks outside. . . . . those ones that have held Nigeria hostage for sooooo long! Those ones that created all the nonsensities like federal character, Land Use decree,etc all for their own regiono-selfish benefits!

Truth is. . . this Niger Delta crises will keep burning expansively until it gets to the seat of those external oppressors.

Justice is easy and as soon as justice is applied, peace will reign in the region and Nigeria will be better for it.