The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) has given the Federal Government a three-week ultimatum within which to implement the compensation of Odi people, as granted by the court, for alleged invasion of the community.
The group called for the release of its convicted leader, Henry Okah, in a statement issued on Wednesday evening, saying the judgement is a vindication of all the agitating groups in the various Niger Delta states.
The statement, signed by Comrade Azizi, the group’s spokesman, warned that as ruled by the court, government must pay the compensation to the affected communities within three weeks, beginning from Tuesday 19th February, else MEND would be forced to enforce the ruling by any means it deems fit.
Justice Lambi Akanbi of the High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had on Tuesday awarded N37.6bn as compensation to the people of Odi community, in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The compensation is to pay the community over its invasion by armed soldiers during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
MEND commended the judge but pleaded for leniency on its members who were arrested and are being tried in Abuja.
“With this verdict coming from an arm of the Nigerian government, the entire freedom fighters in the Niger Delta (MEND & Others) have been vindicated,” the statement said.
“Nigerians can now see that the invasion of our communities were carried out by the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo purely to have control of our resources, which was gained by Olusegun Obasanjo, his associates and the International Oil Companies (IOC) operating within the Niger Delta.
“The verdict issued yesterday has been one of our key demands while we look towards Justice Kolawale of the Federal High Court, Abuja for a review of the death/life sentence of our members he sent to jail while calling for the release of our leader (Henry Okah).”
The group accused northern politicians, including Governor Babangida Aliu of Niger State, of making statements that could create problems, saying nobody asked President Goodluck Jonathan to stay more than a year as it was his choice.
MEND argued that the 2015 election should be contested by every qualified aspirant in the country, even though it reiterated its promise to cause the disintegration of the country.
It warned northern politicians and international oil companies operating within the Niger Delta Region to accept the realities on ground that the PIB has come to stay.
“We (MEND) have a recent copy of this bill and will advise those concerned of the consequences if that bill is altered,” another part of the statement read.
“There should be no review whatsoever of the new fiscal terms being proposed in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which is currently undergoing legislative scrutiny at the National Assembly; this we will not accept.
“Furthermore, concerning the 2015 election, we (MEND) believe that no Nigerian has mandated any person(s) (politicians) to enter into any agreement(s) on their behalf on who becomes the next Nigerian President come 2015.
“For sure, we as individuals never gave such authorization to any individual, groups or political party. So we want to advise the likes of Governor Aliyu Babandiga of Niger State and his co-traveller, Mr. Junaid Mohammed that Nigerians and only Nigerians alone will decide who runs or becomes the next president come 2015.
“We will want to remind Mr. Junaid Mohammed of our previous communiqué were we clearly stated that the separation of Nigeria will commence by us and through us; 2015 will determine if the entity called Nigeria will remain if peace is not given a chance.”
MEND finally stated its readiness to negotiate with government on the release its leader, Henry Okah, its members and also on the peace of the region “if truly government wants it.”
