The leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta
(MEND), Henry Okah finally left Nigeria last night for Johannesburg,
South Africa. Okah was accompanied to the Murtala Mohammed airport in
Lagos by his younger brother, Charles Okah, and one of his lawyers, Wilson Ajunwa and later left on an Arikair flight to South Africa.
Okah’s departure for South Africa was not without drama, as security
agents initially seized his international passport but later released
it after they “obtained clearance from Abuja”.
Okah was recently released from a 22-month detention by the Yar’Adua regime after his trial hit a dead-end amidst increased activity by Niger Delta militants asking for control of the resources of Nigeria’s richest region. Before returning to South Africa, Mr. Okah refused to meet with Yar’Adua, insisting that he did not accept to be released only to become a crony of an illegitimate government.
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Okah’s refusal to hold direct talks with Yar’Adua led the confused government to turn to Bayelsa State governor, Timi Sylva, to arrange his publicized meeting with another repentant militant leader Ebikabowei Victor Ben, also known as “General Boyloaf”. MEND has since replaced Boyloaf as one of its commanders, and sources said the militant leader remained in Abuja at the expense of the Federal Government. Okah, who arrived in South Africa today, is rejoining his family in Johannesburg.
According to family sources, he will be undertaking much needed medical treatment.
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