Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) yesterday gave its backing to the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari.

The group said it arrived at the decision after careful consideration of the state of the nation, pointing out that the country has been put under a pathetic situation under incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

The organisation in an electronic mail issued and signed by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, also said it strongly believes in Buhari as the man to bring the change the country needs, adding that Jonathan does not deserve a second term.

The militant group also backed Buhari’s decision to scrap the office of the First Lady if he wins the 2015 presidential election, saying none of the reports of committees Jonathan set up has been implemented.

The statement reads: “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has, upon careful consideration of the state of the nation, endorsed and fully supports the presidential candidate of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

“Our decision to throw our full support for Gen. Buhari stems from the pathetic state in which the country has been put by the government of Goodluck Jonathan and our strong belief in Buhari as the man that would bring the change the country needs.

“President Jonathan does not deserve a second tenure in the Presidency, as he has continuously and blatantly disregarded the very people who voted him into office.

“A president that told Nigerians to their face that he does not ‘give a damn’ when asked to declare his assets. A requirement that is constitutional on assuming the office of President.

“President Jonathan, since assuming office has set up countless number of committees, none of which report has been implemented. From the Nuhu Ribadu report to the KPMG and Fuel Subsidy reports, just to mention a few.

“How can Nigerians expect a highly corrupt person like Goodluck Jonathan to fight corruption when he believes that ‘stealing is not corruption as he shamelessly told the Nation?

“He has proven beyond all reasonable doubt his inability to tackle corruption (by failing to) prosecute a single government official in his six years in office.”

The document further stated, “We re-state our disregard and lack of confidence in President Goodluck Jonathan. Rather than address the perennial issues in the country responsible for his administration’s failures, he is concentrating government funds in a campaign of misinformation intended to hoodwink Nigerians who, unfortunately for him, are now wiser and smarter than he is.

•Sourced from National Mirror. Photo shows Buhari.

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