By Emma Amaize
WARRI — Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) weekend divorced itself from a statement by the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) on Sunday, threatening possible secession by Ijaw ethnic group should Vice President Goodluck Jonathan be forced to resign from office.

Vice President Jonathan had since denied the rumour that he was under pressure to resign. The permutation of those wishing him to quit was to pave the way for a Northern successor in the event of a vacancy as a result of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s ailment.

In an e-mail statement signed by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, the group said,  “Movement for the Emanci-pation of the Niger-Delta hereby distances itself from a statement reportedly made by a group calling itself the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC).

“As far as we know, this group exists only in cyberspace and there is no collaboration of any sort with this imaginary group as claimed in the misleading statement.

“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta is apolitical and will continue to remain focussed in the fight for land ownership and resource control for the impoverished people of the Niger Delta.  We will neither act in haste  nor  be drawn into political speculation.”

The JRC, which claimed to be representing MEND, the Reformed Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force and The Martyrs Brigade, in an online statement signed by its spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte, had warned that the resignation of the Vice President would provoke a situation of anarchy and possible secession of Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta from the Nigerian federation.

The statement reads in part: “On behalf of the Joint Revolutionary Council, comprising the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, we wish to warn the Vice-President of the Nigerian state, Sir Goodluck Jonathan, from resigning from his position in response to purported pressures being mounted on him by Northern cabals.

“The resignation of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan may lead to grave anarchy and possible secession of Ijaw and Niger Delta territory from the Nigerian state.

“We wish to remind all men of goodwill that our decision to increase progressive engagement with the Nigerian state is much strengthened by the sincere involvement of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We, therefore, condemn any attempt to undermine him or question his ability and capacity for service to his President, Yar’Adua. For too long, dubious Northern cabals have continued to exploit the ignorance of Southern politicians.”