Some Niger-Delta youths under the auspices of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide, on Wednesday cautioned the Itsekiris to stop blackmailing President Goodluck Jonathan over the botched inauguration of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Delta State.
This was as the youths expressed dismay over the reckless and irresponsible attacks on President Jonathan by the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought and other Itsekiri groups in Delta State.
The youths in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Eric Omare, noted that the verbal tirade against Jonathan was irresponsible and advised the leaders to join hands in resolving the dispute rather than insulting the President.
According to the statement, “The protesting Ijaw people of Gbaramatu and Ogulagha Kingdoms are Nigerians and President Jonathan as the President of Nigeria has a duty to listen to their complaints, just like any other Nigerians.
“The fact that President Jonathan is Ijaw by birth does not mean that he should ignore the complaints of Ijaw people in Nigeria,” it added.
IYC which observed that the Itsekiri leaders were known for attacking the President whenever government decisions does not favour them, stated that: “We seriously frowned at the attitude of Itsekiri leaders and group attacking President Jonathan and other Ijaw leaders at the slightest opportunity once government decision is not in their favour and this would no longer be tolerated.
“It would be recall that the Itsekiri people carried out a similar campaign of calumny against the Presidential Adviser on the Niger-Delta Affairs, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, over the amnesty programme even when it was obvious that they were not legible to benefit from the programme.
“We call on President Jonathan and Nigerians to ignore the careless and irresponsible attacks by the Itsekiri leaders and groups as it is the stock in trade of the Itsekiri people to blackmail government once any government decision is against them.
“The IYC insists that for sustainable peace and successful execution of the EPZ project, the Ijaw people of Gbaramatu and Ogulagha must be given their rightful recognition as co-host communities to the EPZ project,” it asserted.
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