Ex-MEND leader scolds ex-militants

Posted by admin Headlines, Niger Delta Friday, May 6th, 2011

A former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND, and chairman of Gbekebor Federated Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Ebitonmo Alapala, yesterday, lashed out at some former militants, said to have threatened to cripple oil installations in the state should the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, fail to reverse alleged imposition of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on the people.

A furious Alapala who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on phone said those issuing the ultimatum should identify themselves and not hide behind the name of Coalition of Niger-Delta Freedom Fighters in Delta state to issue threats to the government.

He said it was appalling that after accepting amnesty, some so-called freedom fighters would still be issuing threats to government that they would cripple oil installations without knowing the implications of their statements.

“You see, it is not everybody who calls himself a freedom fighter that is a freedom fighter, some are criminals, we know the genuine ones among us and those who can speak for us in Delta state if there is anything going wrong. These people who are speaking are not freedom fighters, if they are, they will not speak in this way.

“They cannot be talking about crippling oil installations after accepting amnesty. It is not one went to the market to buy two or three Dane guns, which he or his group submitted to the Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger_Delta that makes him a freedom fighters, and my advice to them is that they should not ignite the fire they cannot control”, he said.

-Punchwp_posts