From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has blamed former President Goodluck Jonathan for frittering away opportunity to develop the Niger Delta during his presidency.
MEND, in a statement by Jomo Gbomo, in reaction to a ruling by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which dropped treasonable charges against Mr. Charles Okah, said the judgment has vindicated the Okah brothers.
Gbomo, who pointed out that “the seven years trial is another example of the slow pace of justice system in Nigeria,” commended the judgment for being “clear, thoughtful and cultivated ruling.”
Insisting that MEND had no hand, whatsoever, in plans to assassinate Jonathan, the group maintained that the former president did nothing to uplift the Niger Delta region.
The statement reads in part: “Indeed, since after the unfortunate incident of October 1, 2010, former president Jonathan has been going all around the world, labelling and slandering the Okah brothers as masterminds of an imaginary assassination attempt on his life. We are, therefore, sufficiently convinced that Justice Kolawole’s ruling has vindicated the Okah brothers.
“For the avoidance of doubt, MEND has no interest whatsoever in any plot to assassinate the former president. Rather, our grouse with the former president borders on the fact that he single-handedly frittered away the golden opportunity bestowed on him by providence to emancipate the Niger Delta.”