Whyte also said Jonathan's constant denial of his links with the NDA, is pathetic and an act of cowardice.

The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), has said the announcement by Niger Delta Avengers to declare the region as a republic on October 1, 2016, is an empty threat.

The RNDA spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte, said: "The threat is the hollow machination by former President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Asari Dokubo and the Governor Nyesom Wike/Ahmed Markarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cause confusion in the country ahead of the 2019 General Election."

This is coming on the heels of an announcement by the Niger Delta Avengers that they will declare independence from Nigeria on October 1, 2016.

The RNDA also said "Hearing the former President and Grand Patron of the Avengers, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan deny his patronage and founding membership of the Niger Delta Avengers is pathetic and an act of cowardice. We also regard as nonsensical; the lame attempts by the Ogbia Brotherhood and the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to defend the former President.

"Where on record from the inception of the NDA has it been shown that Goodluck Jonathan or any of the other active sponsors, sympathizers, and financiers, including Mr. Azibaola Roberts, Alhaji Asari Dokubo condemned in very strong terms the actions of the Avengers?

"If truly, GEJ is not the Grand Patron of the NDA, we challenge the former President to address a World Press Conference to denounce the criminal group. We also call on the former President to mend fences with the Okah brothers and MEND (the main militant group in the Niger Delta) and endorse the current efforts by MEND to bring peace and development to the region. Otherwise, we shall continue to push for the arrest and prosecution of the former President and his associates who are determined to destabilize PMB’s Government.

"We further use this opportunity to call on Mr. Udengs Eradiri aka “Brigadier General Murdoch Agbinibo” and other closet members of the NDA to follow our path by embracing peace and endorse the MEND peace and development efforts. Also, the NDA should not allow itself to be used by Biafra secessionist groups like IPOB to do the dirty work to the detriment of Niger Delta environment and economy.

"While professing itself as a non-violent movement to the world, the hypocritical IPOB are encouraging, supporting and instigating violence in the Niger Delta by proxy through the NDA."

There are also reports that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, are being investigated by the Federal Government, to ascertain their links with the Niger Delta Avengers.

In a swift reaction, the minister of information, Lai Mohammed has denied the reports, saying he is unaware of any probe of that nature.