Ijaw youths, under the
umbrella of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide (IYC) have cautioned the
Federal Government against any plan to arrest former President Goodluck
Jonathan, warning that such a move would spell doom for the
administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The group which handed down the warning at a news conference over
the weekend, noted that recent actions of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) is laying a foundation for the arrest of the
former President.
IYC President, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, pointed out that most of the
close allies of Jonathan had been arrested by the EFCC, while also
condemning the recent arrest and detention of Jonathan’s cousin, Mr.
Robert Azibaola, over an alleged $40m contract fraud.
According to Eradiri, Ijaw youths would not allow Azibaola,
Jonathan or any rising Ijaw leader to be persecuted by the EFCC in the
same way the late Alamieyeseigha was dealt with by the Federal
Government.
He said: “They have arrested almost all our people. Azibaola was
arrested by the EFCC and we are calling on the EFCC to stop persecuting
him further and charge him to court if there are issues.
“They detained him for a long time, forcing him to make statements
to indict former President Jonathan. Azibaola is a businessman, a
contractor, and has the right, like every other Nigerian, to get
contracts. Why will the Niger Delta case be a different one?
“We noticed that the same way they persecuted Alamieyeseigha has
continued. After Goodluck Jonathan, our people who contributed to that
administration, are being persecuted by this government.
“The recent one is the ploy to arrest Goodluck Jonathan, which is
unfolding every day. This must stop. Goodluck Jonathan is the most
performing President that Nigeria has ever had. We are proud of him.
“Everyday, there is a calculated attempt to whittle down the
achievements of former President Jonathan. We call on Nigerians to mount
pressure on the government to focus on leading Nigeria right rather
than looking for ways to bring down the achievements of Jonathan.
“Buhari should please focus on governance rather than persecution
of people who have added value. We are not happy about it and today, we
use Alamieyeseigha’s death as a point of contact. The world has seen
that from Alamieyeseigha, it has trickled down to all the Niger Delta
people.”
Eradiri lso warned the Federal Government to do the needful on the
alleged removal of 10 percent host community fund from the revised
version of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB.
According to him, it is commonsense that such find would ameliorate
the years of crisis in the Niger Delta, warning that they would not beg
for it but take what belongs to them.
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