MEND gives condition for ceasefire

Bolaji Ogundele, Port Harcourt - 14.01.2008

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has called on the Federal Government to prevail on the Angolan authorities to release its leader, Henry Okah, who was reportedly being detained on criminal charges, as a condition for a ceasefire and dialogue.

MEND made the call in a statement circulated in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday. The militant group said Okah, whom it referred to as a “respected youth leader and pillar,” was part of the process to restore peace to the Niger Delta until he was arrested.

MEND described Okah as the cornerstone of peace in the Niger Delta, saying that the current efforts by the Federal Government to restore peace in the area would only be credible if Okah got his freedom.

“The stone that was rejected by the builders is actually the cornerstone needed to restore credibility back to the peace initiative and start a genuine process to bringing peace, justice, reconciliation and prosperity to the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.

“The continued illegal incarceration of this worthy son of the Niger Delta will only worsen the already volatile situation,” MEND said in the statement.

“Now, his situation is even more precarious due to his betrayal by the South African mission in Angola. Because the Angolan government lacked evidence to charge him, he was recently offered a deal to implicate political opponents of the Angolan and Equatorial Guinea governments in a phantom coup in exchange for his own freedom, Henry declined.

“We want to make it very clear that should any danger come to our comrade, Henry Okah, we will hold the governments of South Africa, Nigeria and Angola responsible. Nothing must happen to him. We call on the United Nations and all concerned to expedite his immediate release,”it added.