The
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), last weekend pledged
to support the proposed dialogue with the Federal Government being championed
by Chief Edwin Clark.
The Secretary
of the miltant group Mr Timipa Okponipene made the pledge on Friday when he
paid a courtsey visit to Clark in his house in Warri.
Okponipene, who
condemned the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers, also presented MEND’s
terms and conditions for participation in the dialogue to Clark.
According to
him, the Ijaw national leader should lead the dialogue team while two slots
should be left for women.
``I am sent to
pledge our support and loyalty to Chief Edwin Clark.
``The dialogue
group shall also comprised six eminent personalities in the Niger Delta and
Clark will be the leader,’’ he said.
Okponipene said
that MEND had no problem with Clark, adding that they only had different
ideological approach to issues.
Earlier, the
former Police Affairs Minister, Mr Broderick Bozimo, said that the reason for
the gathering was to address the recent publication in which some Ijaws
monarchs went to misrepresent the Niger Delta in Abuja.
``We are amazed
at what we saw on the television and read in the newspapers where some monarchs
misrepresented us before the Minister for State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu.
``The purpose
of this gathering is to ensure the group remain united and ensure the dialogue
succeed,’’ he said.
In his remark,
Clark said that the monarchs went to Abuja on their own accord.
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