Jonathan, Wike Deny Involvement in Militancy

By Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has denied allegations that he is one of the leaders of the Niger Delta promoting militancy in the region.

This came as Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being responsible for the allegations that he himself has links with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

A statement issued on Sunday by the media aide to Jonathan, Ikechukwu Eze, said his attention had been drawn to “a malicious claim by a shadowy group which calls itself the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) to the effect that many notable Ijaw and other Niger Delta leaders and elders, especially those perceived not to be too close to the powers that be, are the alleged sponsors of the current crises in the Niger Delta.”

He said, “For the avoidance of doubt, we are fully convinced that such an idiotic claim is too cheap a narrative, a facile contrivance so badly concocted that any discerning mind would easily see through its disingenuous and duplicitous nature.”

He said while the former president was not bothered by the baseless accusation because of “Jonathan’s widely-acknowledged sincere disposition to peace, non-violence and better human community, he was disturbed by the re-appearance of ‘Cynthia White’, “who had in the past served as the spokesperson for a notorious group that had all along shown its hand to be going after the life of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan”.

More details later