Few days to the 2019 presidential election, a South South militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), has endorsed the candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement signed its spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, the group rejected the purported plan to endorse President Muhammadu Buhari by some ex-militant leaders.
It said Nigeria should be prepared for a perpetual recession if the election is rigged in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The group threatened to cripple the economy if the election is rigged saying it, “shall not relent until oil stops to flow in the pipes that braces our feet in our land.” The militant group said it is convinced Atiku will restructure Nigeria if elected as president on February 16.
“The high command is convinced that when elected come February 16th, 2019, the government of Alhaji (Dr.) Atiku Abubakar will not only restructure Nigeria, but will reverse the inimical ownership rights to natural resources alongside promises that falls within the basis upon which we declared Operations RED ECONOMY against the evil government of Nigeria.
“We use this medium to advise Alhaji Abubakar that when elected into office, the cardinal demands of restructuring of Nigeria should kick start within six months to forestall further agitation from the Niger Delta,” the statement reads.
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The group also warned multinational corporations to withdraw their workforce and services from Niger Delta within the period of the elections.
The statement read further, “We are in charge of the struggle now and our strike teams are active and gallantly waiting to receive instructions from the high command to cripple the Nigerian economy again if Buhari is rigged back to office.”
The group explained that the warning to the multinational corporations was for them “not to be casualties to the ongoing securitisation and provocation in the Niger Delta by the Nigerian military command.”
It berated some its leaders; Boyloaf, Tompolo, shoot-at-sight, Ateke and Farah Dagogo for their planned endorsement of President Buhari, describing them as the ‘failed five’.
However, former militant, Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, has denied reports that he had endorsed President Buhari’s re-election bid.
In a statement signed by his media adviser and consultant, Paul Bebenimibo, Tompolo said he was not aware of any such endorsement coordinated by another former militant leader, Ebikabowei Victor Ben aka Boyloaf.
Tompolo said he had not been in touch with Boyleaf in four years.
