Niger Delta Militants Deny Saharareporters Report on Sponsorship of Avengers
LAGOS AUGUST 8TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The Spokesperson of the Niger Delta militant group which reportedly named the sponsors of Niger Delta Avengers has denied issuing such press release.
Cynthia Whyte , spokesperson of the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) in a brief statement through an email to Newsdiaryonline and several other platforms on Sunday described the report by Sahara Reporters as “treacherous”.
The JRC Spokesperson said “This publication, as quoted and reported by Sahara Reports is a Lie. At no time did Cynthia Whyte, Spokesperson of the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) issue a press release of that sort.
“We condemn the treacherous and blackmail that the press release was meant to achieve. The journey to a liberated Niger Delta is the responsibility of every citizen of the Niger Delta even those who have dedicated themselves to a life of servitude to hegemonic slave masters.
“How can Goodluck Jonathan sponsor The Avengers? If Goodluck Jonathan was given to such antics, he would not have lost the election of March 2015.
“We will speak in the next few hours.”
Earlier ,Sahara Reporters, relying on a press release by a break away militant group named former President Goodluck Jonathan and several others as the sponsors of Niger Delta Avengers.
In a related development, Some of those mentioned in the story have publicly denied any involvement .
In a statement titled : “Cynthia Whyte, Please Leave Me Alone” former Spokesman of PDP ,Olisa Metuh said “My attention has been drawn to a false and misleading report circulating in a section of the media, heinously listing my name as one of the sympathizers of the Niger-Delta Avengers.
“Ordinarily, I would not have responded to this given that I have since chosen to conduct my affairs with the decency and comportment of someone involved in a well-celebrated trial and with a severe spinal problem. I am also not unaware of the series of false reports against my person in the past few months. However, on this occasion I have chosen to respond, as this particularly borders on matters affecting national security.
“Indeed, I believe this is a wicked, cruel and devilish plot to link me with such activities and at this very time, especially as the claim is outrightly false.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I hereby state categorically that I do not have any relationship or association whatsoever either as a sympathizer or sponsor of any militant group, including the Avengers.
“I therefore find it very cruel that any person would in any manner whatsoever attempt to associate my name with anything to do with this group or its operations and I still wonder what the motive behind this sinister plot is.
“While I restate my decision not to be drawn into any controversy at this time, it is pertinent that I reiterate that my only preoccupation now remains matters concerning my health and extant court trial as I continue to conduct my affairs with dignity and single-mindedness.
“Finally, I call on the Federal Government and security agencies to immediately investigate and arrest Cynthia Whyte, who purportedly circulated the report and ensure that they get to the root of this matter. This is a security issue and nobody should be allowed to play politics with it.
Also former spokesman of the Niger Delta Amnesty office, Mr Dan Alabrah has said in a statement that he is not an NDA sympathizer.
Alabrah’s statement on Sunday reads in full: “ A report published by the news portal, SaharaReporters, of Saturday, August 6, 2016 linking me to the nascent militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), came to me as a surprise.
“The report with the headline: “Former President Jonathan, Tompolo, Akpabio, Wike, Dokpesi, Others Named As Sponsors of Niger Delta Avengers,” mentioned my name as one of its sympathisers.
“The report was attributed to one Cynthia Whyte, who is the so-called spokesperson of a specious and shadowy group, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA).
“The claim is not only false, spurious and lacking substance, it is also the figment of the imagination of the authors and their sponsors. The intention is to distract the Federal Government, the security and intelligence agencies from the task of uprooting the latest scourge of militancy from the Niger Delta.
“While it is an honour to be named among such great Nigerians, let me remind those behind the report that militancy is not the only means of a livelihood in the Niger Delta that virtually every respectable and responsible person from the region would be tarred with that infamous stigma.
“I therefore state unambiguously and without any equivocation that I am not sympathetic to the agitation of the Niger Delta Avengers just as I am not given to violent methods to espouse a cause. My mode of dissent as a journalist and media-minded person had always been within the ambits of the law and through avenues that are professionally and legally acceptable.
“I do not know if my modes of expressing my views on national or Niger Delta issues have now constituted a threat to national peace. If that is the case, then this is an attempt to stifle free speech, democratic values and my inalienable rights.
“As a former appointee, who served as Head of Media and Communication of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for three years, I contributed in no small measure towards ensuring and sustaining peace in the Niger Delta as well as in moulding the lives of youths from the region. I cannot now toe a dishonourable and discredited path.
“I therefore urge the sponsors of this malicious report to repent of their evil ways as the wrath of God awaits them.
