Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) and some ex-militant generals that served under the defunct militia group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), yesterday described the adoption of retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, as inconsequential.

The IYC also described as “ghost” and of no electoral value the MEND support for Buhari, “as election is won by votes cast by physical and verifiable human beings.”

The IYC, an umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide, through its spokesman, Eric Omare, and that of MEND, Gen. Eris Paul, dismissed the endorsement as a “pseudo” claim by a non-existing group of paid elements in the region.

The ex-militant leaders who formed MEND led by its former Senate Leader, Gen. Eris Paul, also known as Ogunboss, said the purported endorsement of Buhari by the defunct MEND was laughable and a clear call on the Niger Delta people to brace up for war against invading political elements sponsored by leaders of APC.

The former militant leaders, at a mini-protest march yesterday in Yenagoa, accused the purported MEND members of having been paid $500,000 by a former governor in Bayelsa and serving governor of a South-South state to embark on the fake endorsement and an orgy of violence in the region.

Ogunboss, who led other ex-militant generals from the region, said though Niger Delta people do not subscribe to violence, “we will react violently to any plan by opposition political leaders to sponsor few disgruntled elements in the Niger Delta to perpetuate violence. If there is any attack in the Niger Delta, it will be met by multiple attacks in the states under their control.

“In a situation where people of the Niger Delta have decided to adopt a nonviolent posture because of President Goodluck Jonathan, it should not be taken to mean that we are cowards. We want members of the pseudo MEND and their sponsors to know that if they buy arms to carry out their evil intentions, we will also produce guns to counter them. If they buy bombs, we will produce bombs.”

The ex-militant leader said the founders of MEND and other former freedom fighters in the region were solidly behind President Goodluck Jonathan. “We want to clearly dissociate ourselves from the purported statement by MEND. There is (no) organisation called MEND. The defunct MEND comprises people you see here today. We are aware that those disgruntled elements were paid money to issue a statement of lies and deceit,” he stated.

The IYC in the statement issued by its spokesperson, Comrade Eric Omare, said it was not surprised by the adoption of Buhari by the purported MEND.

•Adapted from National Mirror. Photo shows Buhari.