PORT HARCOURT – The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has declared its support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Mohammadu Buhari, retd.
The group in a statement released online and signed by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, stated that its “decision to throw our full support on General Mohammadu Buhari stems from the pathetic state in which the country has been put by the government of Goodluck Jonathan and our strong believe in General Mohammadu Buhari as the man and change the country needs.”
The statement stated that one of the reasons MEND decided to support Buhari was the pledge by the APC presidential candidate that he will scrap the office of the First Lady because its “irrelevant, fraudulent and unconstitutional”.
“President Goodluck Jonathan does not deserve a second more in the Presidency as soon as his tenure expires as he has continuously and blatantly disregarded the very people who voted him into office. A President that told Nigerian to their faces that he does not “give a damn” when asked to declare his assets. A requirement that is constitutional on assuming the office of the President.”
“President Jonathan, since assuming his office, has set up countless number of “Committees”, none of which their reports has ever been implemented.
From the Nuhu Ribadu report to the KPMG and Fuel Subsidy reports, just to mention a few.
“He has proven beyond all reasonable doubt, his inability to tackle corruption or prosecute a single government official in his six (6) years in office”.
The statement continued: “MEND finds it laughable the recent statement by Goodluck Jonathan on his government’s plan to fight corruption.
“This statement not only smacks of ignorance to the highest order, but also shows just how stupid he thinks Nigerians are.
“A president that had six years to tackle the problem but chose to shield corrupt government officials, joined in the looting of our resources and now has the temerity to say his government “has a plan” to fight corruption. This is a big slap in the face of every single Nigerian!”
“We re-state our disregard and lack of confidence in President Goodluck Jonathan. Rather than address the perennial issues in the country responsible for his administrations failures, he is concentrating government funds in a campaign of misinformation, intended to hoodwink Nigerians who, unfortunately for him, are now wiser and smarter than he is”.
The statement further stated that “since President Goodluck Jonathan assumed office, the Niger Delta region has experienced excruciating poverty faced by the people, worse pollution and environmental degradation and not once has he ever come out to openly condemn the destruction of our environment by the activities of irresponsible oil companies.It can only take a bold and courageous man like General Mohammadu Buhari to tackle the insecurity and oil theft plaguing the nation. He has done it before and he will and can do it again!”