Ovie Okpare, Warri

The Niger Delta Avengers has refuted the claim that it nominated Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka; a former Abia State governor, Mr. Orji Kalu and five others to negotiate with the federal government on behalf of the group.

A statement by the spokesman of the militant group, Mudoch Agbinibo, late on Saturday described the claim as the work of mischief makers, keen to derail the group’s struggle.

The group said the claim “by enemies of the Niger Delta” might be because of Soyinka’s “belief that the government of the day should understand the need to restructure and listen to the Niger Delta agitation positively”.

“That we, the NDA, have named Prof. Wole Soyinka and some incredible names to advise and lead any group is the Lie of The Century,” it said.

It, however, said that the group supported the Chief Edwin Clark-led Niger Delta Elders and Stakeholders Conference committee to lead a Pan-Niger Delta Negotiations/Dialogue Team whenever the Federal Government was ready.