From PAUL OSUYI, Asaba
MILITANT group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has described the flag-off of the clean up of Ogoni land by President Mahummadu Buhari as a charade, insisting that the president was not sincere about the exercise.
The group has been silent since middle of September when they blew up the Bonny Export Line but the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM), another militant group has been claiming responsibility for breach of pipelines in the region.
In an open letter to the President, NDA’s spokesman, Muddoch Agbinibo said the group was constrained to speak since the cessation of hostilities because of Buhari’s disparaging remarks about Niger Delta freedom fighters.
Agbinibo stated that the President has been issuing “misleading statements and threats of decisive military action” against Niger Delta agitators for not embracing the channels of dialogue which were “purportedly opened” through security agencies/agents of multinational corporations.
“Mr. President do democratically elected governments open channels for talks in situations like we have in the Niger Delta through security agencies/agents or you are assuming the Niger Delta as a conquered colony in your 1984 era?” it queried.
On the flag-off of the Ogoni land clean up, Agbinibo said NDA was “disturbed with the type of rhetoric and politics you are degenerating your age and authority as president of Nigeria on issues concerning Niger Delta since you came into office.
“You continue to live in pretence and blind to the history of the Niger Delta agitation because of some psychopaths around and advising you… as far as you are concerned, you are as white as the snow!  
“But do I recalled that you were once a military governor, a minister of petroleum, military head of state and chairman Petroleum Trust Fund and general Sani Abacha’s henchman  (the most corrupt dictator in the history of Africa).
“To say the least, your hands are soiled deep in the blood of Kenule Saro Wiwa (the Ogoni nines), events leading up to the pollution of Ogoni land that you are politicizing the clean up process. 
“Wait a moment, how come your government is glorifying a charade called Ogoni clean up while you were a major player in that crime? How can you justify Ogoni clean up at the same time constitute a Task Force called “Operations Delta Safe” that is embarking on environmental pollution with the burning and bombing of petroleum products in the guise of fighting oil theft?  
“Does that amount to lack of genuine ideas or sincerity?  OR at least, is there no relationship between environmental pollution and the ongoing indiscriminate burning and bombing of petroleum products by operatives of the so-called Operations Delta Safe?”
Agbinibo identified corruption as one of the factors responsible for the Niger Delta conflict, explaining “corruption engendered by successive government that you served since oil became the commonwealth of the nation Nigeria. 
“What is wrong in president simply producing a copy of secondary school leaving certificate instead hiring 13 Senior Advocates of Nigeria to suppress the judiciary?  
“Whilst you start the Ogoni clean up process; what is wrong in reviewing the Sir Henry Willinks Commission Report 1958; Ogoni Bill of Rights; Kaiama Declaration Document of the Ijaw Youths Council; General Alexander Ogomudia Committee Report; and Leedum Mitee-led Niger Delta Technical Committee Report?”