Carter, former US president, to mediate in N/Delta crisis

Bolaji Ogundele, Port Harcourt - 07.05.2008

Former American president, Mr Jimmy Carter, has accepted to mediate in the face-off between the Federal Government and the militants in the Niger Delta, however, on the condition of invitation by the Federal Government.

But the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) has threatened that should Federal Government fail to extend the requested invitation, it would extend its action of destruction beyond the current state.

In a statement sent online on Tuesday by the spokesman of the MEND, Jomo Gbomo, the group said it received a letter from the Carter Center that the former American president wishes to mediate in the prolonged Niger Delta crisis.

It said though it had no confidence in the will of the Federal Government to return peace to the region, it said it was offering a temporary ceasefire in the event that government invited the former president.

“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has received today, May 6, 2008, a confirmation from The Carter Center through its Vice President, Mr John Stremlau, that the former president of the United States of America, Jimmy Carter, has graciously accepted to mediate in the Niger Delta crisis on the condition that the Nigerian government and any other relevant stake holder invites him.

“President Carter represents transparency, impartiality, humility and integrity; four key ingredients critical in the mediator recipe towards ensuring a genuine and enduring peace process for the region,” the statement said.