We Didn’t Endorse Dickson’s Re-election Bid – MEND

The Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) on Tuesday denied reports that it endorsed the re-election bid of Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson.

The group in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Gbomo Jomo, dissociated itself from a statement endorsing Dickson’s ambition, credited to one Prince Amaibi Horby (aka General Busta Rhymes), who claimed to be its acting chairman and 12 others.

The statement by Horby, which purportedly endorsed Dickson, also warned President Muhammadu Buhari against any attempt to rig the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa, if he does not want to re-awaken “a sleeping dog”.

The militant group, however, denied giving its backing to the second term ambition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election and accused Dickson of paying a group of thugs to use its name to endorse him.

The statement said: “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to dissociate itself from an imposter and self-acclaimed ‘Acting Chairman’ of MEND, going by the name of ‘Prince Amaibi Horby (aka General Busta Rhymes)’ who claims to be speaking for MEND by endorsing Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, for the December 05, 2015 governorship elections.

“This so-called support and endorsement was circulated in some sections of the media on Monday, 23 November 2015.

“MEND wishes to state categorically, that we do not endorse or support Governor Seriake Dickson in a way, shape or form and strongly urges the media to disregard any such statements to the contrary, as it did not emanate from MEND.

“As far as we know, Governor Seriake Dickson, in his desperation to be re-elected as Governor of Bayelsa State, has paid a group of thugs to use our group’s name to endorse his ambition”.