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| Blow by blow: Real Cynthia Whyte and Sahara reporters exchange media blows over DSS propaganda |
Saharareporters had today published a report claiming that "A group that recently split from Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a militant organization that has claimed responsibility for bombing numerous oil facilities, has claimed that former President Goodluck Jonathan was the grand patron of the NDA."
Sahararreporters attributed the statement issued today to "Cynthia Whyte, an alias for a male spokesman," and stated that "the splinter group also named several former and serving governors as sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers. Those named as “sponsors” included Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Seriaki Dickson of Bayelsa."
But in an email copied to Elombah.com from the said "Cynthia Whyte" today and addressed to Mr Omoyele Sowore, Cynthia Whyte denied issuing the statement and stated:
"Our attention has been drawn to a deceitful, malicious and cantankerous press release issued by a con-group which calls itself the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers and signed by a 'Cynthia Whyte'.
"We wish to inform the Nigerian people and unsuspecting media that both the name of the signee and the group it represents are a fraud.
"Why would a Goodluck Jonathan want to fund or sponsor the renewed agitation in the Niger Delta? Will it bring him back to power as President of a nation as deformed as Nigeria?
"Why would a Nyesom Wike, or any Governor in the Niger Delta for that matter want to fund militancy in the Niger Delta? Will it increase his monthly allocation from the center? Would a Governor of that state want to compound the insecurity issues in his state?
"The contents of that media publication (and any future communication from that group) should be ignored. It clear that the group represents just how far a group of people would go to con General Buhari and his many lieutenants.
"God save the Niger Delta.
"Cynthia Whyte, Spokesperson"
Whyte also told Sowore:
"You have been on Cynthia Whyte's mailing list for about 10 years starting from September 2005 and since then, you have published several press releases from the JRC that was signed off by Cynthia Whyte and sent from this email address.
"We are therefore surprised that you could publish a press release from an impostor on your website;
http://saharareporters.com/2016/08/06/former-president-jonathan-tompolo-akpabio-wike-dokpesi-others-named-sponsors-niger-delta
"Does this not amount to lending credence to impostors? Are impostors now being encouraged by your website which is supposed to INFORM the people?
"Yet again, we have attached a rebuttal to the calumnious, deceitful and false press release purported written by a fake group and signed by a impostor Cynthia Whyte and published by Sahara Reporters.
"Thank You.
"Cynthia Whyte."
But in his response Sowore wrote:
" Several years ago you called me in person and told me that "Cynthia Whyte" is a nom de guerre assumed by you for the purposes of fighting the Niger Delta struggle. Like many here know, the same had been for "Jomo Gbomo." I am surprised that you chose to single out Saharareporters regarding this press statement from "Cynthia Whyte".
"Other newspapers, including Vanguard, carried the first report from the "Reformed Niger Delta Avengers" but you chose to target SR because it has become convenient to do when news reports don't suit your purpose.
"Like yourself during your days at the JRC, some persons here issued a statement and sent it to the media the same way you did several years ago and enjoyed publication of your pieces without discrimination as you have attested to here in your email.
"Regards,
"Sowore"
But Whyte retorted:
"Have you joined those characters in their mischief and blackmail?
"Was the email sent to signed by 'xxx' who you claim called you and told you the this was his nom de guerre?
"If you receive an email from a strange address and signed by another, will you publish it without verifying from the other?
"This is the purpose for which this matter was brought to your attention NOT for you to be calling our names that were not referred to in this narrative.
"God help us.
"CW"
SAHARAREPORTERS, had on AUG 06, 2016 reported that "A group that recently split from Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a militant organization that has claimed responsibility for bombing numerous oil facilities, has claimed that former President Goodluck Jonathan was the grand patron of the NDA.
"In a statement issued today by Cynthia Whyte, an alias for a male spokesman, the splinter group also named several former and serving governors as sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers. Those named as “sponsors” included Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Seriaki Dickson of Bayelsa.
"Mr. Whyte also identified Senator Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, ex-militant turned contractor, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), Raymond Dokpesi, the founder of African Independent Television (AIT), the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Kingsley Kuku, Kimi Angozi, and Patrick Akpobolokemi as other sponsors.
"The splinter group, which renamed itself Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), had recently declared its opposition to NDA’s destruction of oil infrastructure in the region, warning that it would disclose the names of individuals and groups backing the militant group.
"Mr. Whyte’s statement revealed that the NDA’s sympathizers included Edwin K. Clark, Tony Uranta, Daniel Alabrah, Ms. Annkio Briggs, and Olisa Metuh, a former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
"The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers named Oyege Nimi Brown, VIP Timothy, Joshua Macaiver, Paul Bebenimibo and others as the main operatives of the NDA, adding that Udengs Eradiri, the president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), also known as Brigadier General Murdoch Agbinibo, serve as the NDA’s chief spokesman."
Meanwhile former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has denied allegations that he is one of the leaders of the Niger Delta promoting militancy in the region.
This came as Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being responsible for the allegations that he himself has links with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
A statement issued on Sunday by the media aide to Jonathan, Ikechukwu Eze, said his attention had been drawn to “a malicious claim by a shadowy group which calls itself the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) to the effect that many notable Ijaw and other Niger Delta leaders and elders, especially those perceived not to be too close to the powers that be, are the alleged sponsors of the current crises in the Niger Delta.”
He said, “For the avoidance of doubt, we are fully convinced that such an idiotic claim is too cheap a narrative, a facile contrivance so badly concocted that any discerning mind would easily see through its disingenuous and duplicitous nature.”
He said while the former president was not bothered by the baseless accusation because of “Jonathan’s widely-acknowledged sincere disposition to peace, non-violence and better human community, he was disturbed by the re-appearance of ‘Cynthia White’, “who had in the past served as the spokesperson for a notorious group that had all along shown its hand to be going after the life of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan”.
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