Politics

Do not touch Jonathan, or else…, IYC warns Buhari

Published

8 years ago

April 11, 2016

Do not touch Jonathan, or else…, IYC warns Buhari

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.

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now