President Goodluck Jonathan has absolved the Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND of complicity in the bomb blasts which claimed over scores of lives as the country was celebrating its golden jubilee independence anniversary in Abuja yesterday.
In his first public reaction to the bomb blasts which took place less than a kilometre away from Eagle Square where he was inspecting a military parade in commemoration of the nation’s 50th independence anniversary yesterday, President Jonathan said terrorists were behind the deadly explosions and not MEND. However, MEND had not only claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks, the militant had in an e-mail messages to some media houses warned of the impending attacks and advising people to evacuate areas close to the venue of the independence celebrations about an hour before the explosions went off. Contrary to this claim,President Jonathan however absolve the group of responsibility for the attacks in his address at a colloquium in Abuja by the ECOWAS Parliament. Jonathan, at the event which was organised to celebrate African countries which are also marking their golden jubilee anniversary this year also delared that MEND is not a terrorist group. “What happened yesterday was a terrorist act and MEND was just used as a straw; MEND is not a terrorist group,” the President said. He added that the people of the Niger Delta are aware of the efforts of the present administration to address the deprivation of the past and will not do anything to jeopardise the opportunity. “It is erroneous to think that my people who have been agitating for good living will deliberately blow up the opportunity they have now,” Jonathan said. The President who prayed for the repose of the soul of those who lost their lives to the blast however promised that the nation’s security agencies will be restructured to be able to tackle such attacks in the future. Meanwhile, President Jonathan today visited some of those injured by by bomb blasts at the National Hospital, Abuja in company of first lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan. During the visits, the President sympathised with the victims of the bomb blast and promised that government will be responsible for their hospital bills. Security has been beefed up around Abuja as a result of yesterday attacks. There are heavy police presence around major hotels in the capital city. By Oluokun Ayorinde/Abuja
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Posted: at 4-10-2010 01:43 PM (14 years ago) | Addicted Hero
i don,t think its so normal for any responseble leader to jump into a conclusion on a sensitive matters that involves souls of the citizens , the president is trying to disassociates the terrorist groups MEND that were responsible for the attack on the nation,s capital on the independence day celebrations , while the said group came out boldly and claimed full responsibility for the blast , now who is fooling who? one of the two group must be irresponsible really
Posted: at 4-10-2010 03:07 PM (14 years ago) | Grande Master
YES THAT IS TRUE NIGER DELTA CAN NEVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT ...... IBB OR OBASENJO SHOULD BE ASKED .... I KNOW THOSE GUYS AND WHAT DEY CAN DO
you that , you never serious so , why should obasanjo and ibb will ever do such a thing ? can,t you ask your self that question first even with out MEND claiming the responsiblity for the blast , thats really a false accusation, and its so baseless and senseless
Posted: at 4-10-2010 03:12 PM (14 years ago) | Grande Master
OLOGBOJO-1 at 4-10-2010 03:15 PM (14 years ago) (m)
Wisely spoken by Mr President..... “What happened yesterday was a terrorist act and MEND was just used as a straw; MEND is not a terrorist group,” The bomb blast was not aimed to kill either Mr President or any of his entourage, but the operation was carried out to jeopardize his government. I pray for the souls of those who lost their lives to the blast and i aswell sympathise with those at hospital (victims of the event). The prayer of Mr President is the only answer to such case and similar ones. Actually, the nation`s security agencies require restructuring so as to be able to tackle such attacks in the future, but the fact remains that, "only the watchful eyes can be vigilant not the eyes watch". United States of America that is more security wise sophisticated than Nigeria is always cry of attacks upon attacks Finally, THE BOMB BLAST WAS A DESPERATE POLITICAL MOVES that was unwisecrack for the Nigeria political system. The ambitious Politcians should please exercise patience. God`s time is the best. My opinion on the attack,Abideen.
Posted: at 4-10-2010 03:15 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
princedafe at 4-10-2010 03:53 PM (14 years ago) (m)
Quote from: OLOGBOJO-1 on 4-10-2010 03:15 PM
Wisely spoken by Mr President..... “What happened yesterday was a terrorist act and MEND was just used as a straw; MEND is not a terrorist group,” The bomb blast was not aimed to kill either Mr President or any of his entourage, but the operation was carried out to jeopardize his government. I pray for the souls of those who lost their lives to the blast and i aswell sympathise with those at hospital (victims of the event). The prayer of Mr President is the only answer to such case and similar ones. Actually, the nation`s security agencies require restructuring so as to be able to tackle such attacks in the future, but the fact remains that, "only the watchful eyes can be vigilant not the eyes watch". United States of America that is more security wise sophisticated than Nigeria is always cry of attacks upon attacks Finally, THE BOMB BLAST WAS A DESPERATE POLITICAL MOVES that was unwisecrack for the Nigeria political system. The ambitious Politcians should please exercise patience. God`s time is the best. My opinion on the attack,Abideen.
WELLSAID AND SUPPORTED
Posted: at 4-10-2010 03:53 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Well i am from the Niger delta, precisely Bayelsa State....If Mend has really owned up to the blast that took place on the 1st of October then i am so disappointed.....how can a group who has stated that they are after the progress and safety of its people turn around to kill and injure its people. when would such groups realize that carrying out operations like this is not only a set back for a better Nigeria but also a cruel and unthinkable option.
Why would a group trying take a stand and make a statement to the government, the people of Nigeria, Niger deltaians and the world use means of destruction to make a point...the act of October 1st shows nothing but terrorism,they are taking out terrorist attacks on the same people they say they are fighting for. Why blame the government and security officers for the attack when we all know the state of Nigeria as it is...Nigerians are looking for a way out because we have been faced with problematic issues in different sectors poverty,security,Education,health etc and then instead of helping the present government in setting and undergoing reforms and policies that would benefit all of us they go around and sabotage the chances that has already been created....Shame to members of the group who sees themselves as educated because if you truly were...you would be a positive driving force for the people of the Niger delta and Nigeria as a whole.
Posted: at 4-10-2010 04:20 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
naturalqueen at 4-10-2010 05:10 PM (14 years ago) (f)
Does Mr. President have facts that it is not MEND that did it? How well does he know? U never can tell. Anybody can do it especially with heavy and high-class oppositions. I hear him say that hospitalized victims of the blast will be taken care of. What about those who died in teh bomb blast? Their families should also be taken care of.
Posted: at 4-10-2010 05:10 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac
damseljasmine at 4-10-2010 05:15 PM (14 years ago) (f)
Quote from: dirtykid on 4-10-2010 01:54 PM
hmmm... Niger and Bomb, soon armed robbers will start using it too
Hey, that would be an insult to their intelligence. Why would they use a bomb to blow up the place they want to rob? What if they blow up the "goods" along with it? I don't thik naija thieves are that dumb.
Posted: at 4-10-2010 05:15 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie
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