MEND replies Jonathan over His Planned Assassination

President Jonathan had said at a PDP rally in Lagos Thursday that MEND tried to assassinate him on two separate occasions, pointing out that the leader of the organisation, Henry Okah, now serving a jail term in South Africa over his atrocities, was paid by some people to assassinate him in 2010.

This was even as an ex-militant general, Godsday Smith, alias Bouninawei (the god of the forest), said there was no way ex-agitators in the Niger- Delta region would abandon President Goodluck Jonathan for Muhammadu Buhari.

But he also maintained that Jonathan’s indictment of ex-militants on plot to kill him was hasty and uncalled for, adding that there was no time ex-militants conspired against his government. Smith asked Jonathan to be bold enough to confront the North which he said was planning his downfall.

But on his part, MEND’s Spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said:

“We challenge President Jonathan to come out and reveal to the nation the names of the persons he claimed paid Mr Henry Okah to assassinate him. 

"Goodluck Jonathan should also explain why these persons, as he obviously knows who they are, were not arrested, tried and convicted.”

In an electronic mail by Jomo Gbomo, MEND said it was untrue that it planned to kill Jonathan.

“MEND views the President, Goodluck Jonathan’s recent campaign rally speech as the most outrageous and ridiculous speech by any President, where he openly accused Mr Henry Okah of being paid to assassinate him.”

“Mr President, the MEND says thank you for vindicating every word in our recent statement of endorsement of General Muhammadu Buhari and for also solidifying your status.”

“The MEND would like to state clearly that our endorsement of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential candidate, has absolutely nothing to do with Mr Henry Okah.

“Nigerians may recall that prior to the bomb blast of October 1, 2010; the MEND issued a warning of an impending attack on Eagle Square, Abuja , where we also advised the public to stay clear of any parked vehicles to avert any casualties.

These warnings were ignored by the Nigerian security agencies, hence the unfortunate and regrettable casualties

“If as Goodluck Jonathan claimed, that he was a target of an assassination attempt, why did we issue a prior warning? Where in this world would an assassin warn their targets in advance of an attempt on their lives?"