The outlawed militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has congratulated the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on his victory in the 2015 presidential elections, saying Nigerians made the right choice.
The “faceless” group in a statement by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, said, “The Nigerian people have spoken and elected General Muhammadu Buhari to be the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, adding, “In doing so, we have not only made the right choice of a new leadership, we have also reaffirmed the strength of our democracy”.
“President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari’s message of hope, freedom and opportunity resonates with our group, as it does with the Nigerian people.
“In these difficult times, with the economic crisis and security challenges, we are confident that under your leadership, Nigeria will once again regain its peace and unity”, the group asserted.
But in a rare expression of goodwill, MEND commended incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan for showing outstanding statesmanship in conceding defeat.
It said by so doing, Mr. Jonathan had set precedence as the first ever incumbent Nigerian president to concede defeat without interfering in the electoral process.
MEND also prayed God to grant Mr. Buhari and all those who will serve with him wisdom, strength and compassion in the coming years.