The name ‘Avengers’ came from the lips of Jonathan, says RNDA

Goodluck Jonathan, immediate past president, is the grand patron of Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), says splinter group, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA).

The RNDA recently “broke away” from the NDA, which is behind for the recent spate of attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta region.

A statement released on Wednesday by Cynthia Whyte, spokesperson of the RNDA, stressed that Jonathan came up with the name “Avengers”.

In the statement obtained by Sahara Reporters, Whyte revealed that Jonathan spearheaded the formation of NDA to counter the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), after the Okah brothers failed to support his re-election bid.

Jonathan recently alleged that the Okah brothers were after his life, and the latter responded by vowing to sue him within 60 days over the allegation of assassination levelled against them.

Furthermore, Whyte noted that Jonathan had made known his intention to release Charles Okah, alleged mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bombing, from Kuje prison, should he endorse him for re-election.

“Like every sponsor, sympathizer and operative earlier mentioned who has equally denied links with the Avengers, we can understand the wisdom behind their decision; as their participation was always meant to be covert.

“Mr. Kingsley Kuku and Mr. Gordon Obuah, [Special Adviser] on Niger Delta and Chief Security Officer to President Jonathan, respectively were selected to visit Charles Okah in Kuje prison.

“Mr. Daniel Alabrah was given the assignment to draft an endorsement statement for Charles Okah to go through and pass on to MEND.

“It therefore came as a shock when MEND did the opposite and endorsed Buhari. Mr. Jonathan was livid with anger and swore that the Okahs would rot in prison.

“It was around that period the idea of forming the Niger Delta Avengers was conceived. In fact the name “Avengers” came from the lips of Goodluck Jonathan.

“As election day approached, certain stakeholders were mobilized to form a force to standby and ensure total anarchy in the South-South and South-East within 24 hours if the election results were not favourable to Jonathan.

“It took everyone by surprise to learn that Mr. Jonathan had conceded defeat even before the final results were released. The standby force who were to attack specific targets were told to stand down. They were all compensated in US dollars cash.

“MEND was aware of this plot through a spy that could not be identified, and the group began its campaign to counter every effort of the NDA and the Biafra agitators to this day.

“If former President Jonathan provokes us further with denials of this revelation, we will reveal more sordid details. The prison authorities in Kuje who witnessed the closed door meeting from the outside can attest to that night visit of November 2014.”