The Movement for Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) on Saturday urged the Presidency to ignore ongoing campaigns of calumny targeted against Chief Timipe Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

The group noted with dismay that “some unpatriotic individuals envious of the performance of some political office holders have resorted to cheap blackmail to discredit them”.

MOSIEND in a statement issued in Yenagoa on Saturday stated that as leading advocacy group in the Niger Delta, it would not fold its arms and watch faceless groups haul malicious and baseless claims to leaders from the region.

The statement was signed by Mr Prince Marley, and Mr Godwin Opiuyo, Chairman and Secretary of Eastern zone of MOSIEND.

“The latest is the unwarranted media mudslinging from one shadowy bunch of fugitive loafery Agent provocateurs parading themselves as Nigerians for Transformational Change, (NTC).

“The group with no known address, calling for the sack of the Hon Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, over summons by a U.S District Court in Pennsylvania over a defamation of character case, which he instituted against one Jackson Ude is frivolous,” MOSIEND stated.

The group in dismissing the call noted that the case of libel was instituted by Sylva against Jackson Ude in the US adding that Sylva is the plaintiff while Jackson Ude is the Respondent/Defendant.

MOSIEND also noted the matter has not even been concluded as what the brains behind the blackmail doing is to whip up public sentiment against Sylva amounts prejudice because the case is in court.

They urged the relevant agencies of the federal government to go after the masterminds of the smear campaign and bring them to face the extant laws as it concerns inciting the public based on falsehood.