Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan denied reports that he was the “grand patron” of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) militant group.
Jonathan gave a comment to a correspondent of Sahara Reporters in Zambia.
This became necessary as a splinter group, The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), released a list of militants’ sponsors on Saturday, August 6.
The list by Cynthia Whyte, a spokesperson for the breakaway group, included:
1. Goodluck Jonathan, the former president (grand patron)
2. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state
3. Governor Seriaki Dickson of Bayelsa state
4. Senator Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom state
5. Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), ex-militant turned contractor
6. Raymond Dokpesi, the founder of the African Independent Television
7. Kingsley Kuku, an ex special adviser to Jonathan on Niger Delta
8. Olisa Metuh, an ex-spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party
9. Oyege Nimi Brown, VIP Timothy, Joshua
10. VIP Timothy Joshua
11. Joshua Macaiver
12. Paul Bebenimibo
13. Udengs Eradiri
14. Kimi Angozi
15. Patrick Akpobolokemi
16. Edwin K. Clark
17. Tony Uranta
18. Daniel Alabrah
19. Annkio Briggs
The RNDA also “exposed” Udengs Eradiri, the president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC). They say he acts as Brigadier General Murdoch Agbinibo, the NDA’s chief spokesman.
The ex-president dismissed the list above, promised to release a formal statement soon. He noted that he had no connections with the NDA. Jonathan added he would not trade words with someone called “Cynthia Whyte”.
An anonymous source close to the former Nigerian leader backed his stance:
“If former President Jonathan wanted chaos in Nigeria and the Niger Delta, he would have refused to concede the election to General Buhari and the APC,” the person said.
The “Avengers” have claimed responsibility for multiple bombings and acts of vandalism on pipelines and oil facilities in Nigeria starting from the end of May 2016.
