"...I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." (Exodus 3: 9-10)
Some eminent Nigerians have graciously accepted to dialogue on behalf of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) with the Federal Government of Nigeria whenever the government realizes the need to adopt serious, meaningful dialogue as a means to halting the violent agitation in the Niger Delta.
The Nigerian government so far has not shown a willingness to dialogue, preferring instead to make wild unrealistic threats, purchase more useless military hardware, and dole out bribes to traitors to our noble cause as has been obvious in its so-called disarmament process.
These eminent persons will be known as the Aaron Team and have our mandate to oversee a transparent and proper MEND disarmament process that conforms with international standards as the current disarmament process is flawed and lacks integrity.
The MEND disarmament process will only come after the root causes of militancy and agitation in the Niger Delta have been addressed by the Nigerian government.
The Aaron Team is;
- Vice Admiral Okhai Mike Akhigbe (rtd)
- Professor Wole Soyinka (Observer)
- Major General Luke Kakadu Aprezi (rtd)
- Dr. Sabella Ogbobode Abidde, PhD
MEND has also nominated Ms Annkio Briggs to liaise on behalf of the group with these Nigerians who have volunteered their time in a bid to bring a just and lasting peace to the Niger Delta.
The hope for peace in the Niger Delta and Nigeria in general now rests squarely on the shoulders of the Nigerian government.
Jomo Gbomo
