The immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan, has dismissed reports that he was one of those funding rampaging militant group, Niger Delta Avengers.
Recall that a splinter group of Avengers, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, RNDA, had issued a statement claiming that Jonathan was the grand patron of the rampaging group that has claimed responsibility for several attacks on oil installations in the oil-rich region.
The splinter group in the statement by its spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte had on Saturday released a list of people it alleged were sponsors of militants in the rich oil region.
The list according to Whyte includes, “Goodluck Jonathan, the former president (grand patron), Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, Governor Seriaki Dickson of Bayelsa state Senator Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), ex-militant turned contractor 6. Raymond Dokpesi, the founder of the African Independent Television 7. Kingsley Kuku, an ex-special adviser to Jonathan on Niger Delta.”
Others are “Olisa Metuh, an ex-spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party, Oyege Nimi Brown, VIP Timothy, Joshua, VIP Timothy Joshua, Joshua Macaiver Paul Bebenimibo, Udengs Eradiri, Kimi Angozi 15. Patrick Akpobolokemi, Edwin K. Clark, Tony Uranta, Daniel Alabrah and Annkio Briggs.”
But Jonathan who is in Zambia as an election observer ahead of the nation’s next week poll described the list released by Whyte as malicious.
He maintained that the names of those listed as alleged sponsors and supporters of NDA suggested a political agenda informed the composition of the list.
He stressed that he will soon come out with a statement clarifying the allegation, Sahara reporter quoted him as saying.
On if he was approached by President Muhammadu Buhari to broker peace between the Federal Government and agitators in the region, the former President said he had received no formal request from his successor.
He, however, stated that Ijaw leader and elder statesman, Edwin Clark, was working informally to help restore stability in the area.
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