MEND: We never tried to assassinate Jonathan

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has denied the allegation of President Goodluck Jonathan that Henry Okah, its leader, plotted to assassinate him.

Speaking at the flag-off of his presidential campaign in Lagos on Thursday, Jonathan had said intelligence service foiled the attack, which led to the loss of 12 lives and the injury of 17 others, on October 1, 2010.

Reacting to the president’s claims, Jomo Gbomo, spokesman of the group, challenged Jonathan to disclose the identities of those who contracted Okah to carry out the assignment.

“Mr. President (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan), MEND says thank you for vindicating every words in our recent statement, endorsing Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and for also solidifying your status as a clueless, inept and bare-faced lair,” the group said in a statement.

“MEND will like to state it clearly that our endorsement of the APC presidential candidate has absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Henry Okah.

“We challenge Mr. President to come out and reveal to the nation, the names of the ‘persons’ he claims paid Mr. Henry Okah to ‘assassinate’ him.”

The group said it issued a warning ahead of the attack, wondering if it would have done so if truly it was responsible for the tragic act.

MEND said the casualties from the attack would have been avoided if the security agencies had taken action.

“Nigerians may recall that prior to the bomb blasts of October 1, 2010, MEND issued a warning of an impending attack on Eagle Square, Abuja, where we also advised the public to steer clear of any parked vehicles, to avert any casualties,” the statement read.

“Where in this world would an assassin warn their target in advance of an attempt on their life? This false allegation by Goodluck Jonathan further confirms our earlier assertion of how he takes Nigerians for stupid, as he seems to have forgotten how he openly came out to absolve MEND of any involvement in the attack.

“Rather than address his administration’s failures, he (President Jonathan) chose to descend so low, by using a very cheap bare-faced lie to get sympathy. Is this the kind of president the country wants to be stuck with for another four years of misery?”