MEND can’t banish Orubebe –Group

THE South-South Youth Movement for Non-Violence has said the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta cannot banish the Minister of Niger Delta, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, from the region.
It expressed doubts over a statement purportedly issued by MEND declaring that Orubebe, had been banished from the oil-rich region.
National President of the group, Mr. Ndubuisi Emmanwori, urged the militant group to refute the statement sent to an online news agency if it was not issued by the group.
Emmanwori stated that Orubebe had been part of the struggle for the development of the Niger Delta region and wondered why he should be banished by MEND.
On the threat to work towards the disintegration of the country and carry out attack oil installations, Emmanwori urged the militant group to give peace a chance.
He said his group would continue to preach peace in the Niger Delta region, adding that harmony was necessary for the development of the area.
“Orubebe is a son of the soil; he is a Niger Deltan by birth and he has been involved in the struggle for the Niger Delta development. MEND can’t banish him.
“We in the South-South Youth Movement for Non-Violence doubt the veracity of that statement. We are not sure that the statement actually came from MEND because of the signatory of the statement.
“We therefore call on MEND to refute the report if it is sure that it did not issue such statement.”
The statement, the group’s national president added, could have emanated from “disgruntled politicians” in Nigeria.
On the East-West Road, Emmanwori added that the project had not been abandoned.