I didn’t ask MEND to back confab, says Uranta

The Secretary General of the Nigerian National Summit Group (NNSG) and Member, Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference/Dialogue, Mr. Tony Uranta has described as myopic and self-destructive, claims of the Movement of the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) questioning his integrity and alleging that he had been in touch with the ethnic militia group soliciting for their support amid other allegations.

In a statement made available to newsmen, Uranta said he had never been in touch with them or sought their support in his vocal pursuit of a Nigerian National Conference but has consistently aligned only with progressive-minded individuals and bodies that share the wish for a conference that will strengthen the nation's unity.

The statement reads in part: “ One's attention has been repeatedly drawn to the outlandish mendacities put out on Thursday under the pseudonym 'MEND', and with regard to my person.

“'MEND' has lied outrageously in nearly every line of its putative statement! But, then, which 'MEND' is this: the anti-Jonathan 'MEND', the Boko Haram-sourced 'MEND', or the phantom-'MEND' that the founders/commanders of MEND (who have since embraced President Yar’ Adua's Amnesty offer, and 'suspended' the any activities by the real MEND...the enigmatic Tompolos, Boyloafs, Farahs et al) have long denied knowledge of?

“I have never been in touch with any of the above 'ersatz-MEND', one of which must have put this bunch of ridiculous lies, and hereby, categorically, state that I never have, at any time, sought the support of any such body in my vocal pursuit of a Nigerian National Conference;

“that I have, consistently, aligned only with progressive-minded individuals and bodies that share the wish for a National Conference that will strengthen this nation's unity, enthrone justice and equity, and fashion out a truly People's Constitution. Nigeria shall survive! No demons can hold back the hands of time. This is Nigeria's time for Re-birth.

MEND had passed a vote of no-confidence on the National Dialogue idea, and identified Mr. Uranta as the committee’s contact man, who it said described rejection from a South-South body like MEND as an embarrassment to the presidency.

According to the statement, their grouse was that Uranta has been campaigning repeatedly that MEND seized to exist after the Niger Delta Amnesty programme and that he and Timi Alaibe do not represent the interests of the Niger Delta people.

It also noted that millions of hard working Nigerians remain unemployed, the country’s education system is going down the drain with strikes, and the country is getting increasingly full of educated derelicts while the government shares out billions of Naira monthly on miscreants, criminals and con men who claim to have been freedom fighters.