NEDU MARK, Yenagoa
The leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has described the arrest and prosecution of prominent Niger Delta indigenes by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government as ‘a politically and ethnically motivated vendetta against the region.’
President of the council, Comrade Udengs Eradiri stated this, Tusday, in Yenagoa while reacting to issues in the country and the polity.
Eradiri listed names of the prominent Niger Delta indigenes as; High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Government ‘Tompolo’ Ekpemupolo and the former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobulokemi, who are all facing charges bordering on corruption.
Eradiri also condemned the harassment and manner in the ex-NIMASA boss was manhandled and re-arrested by the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the court premises in Lagos just after posting bail.
IYC leadership further said the continued arrest of these personalities could trigger instability in the region in the near future and urged President Buhari to ensure that due process is observed in handling corruption charges against these men.
“These recipes are capable of breeding political crisis in 2016, if not properly handled by Mr. President,” the group said.
The group, however, stressed its condemnation for any act of corruption among public office holders, adding that it supports President Buhari in his administration’s war against corruption in the country.
It therefore, called on the federal government to allow the court to prove any suspect connected with the corruption case guilty of the offenses, than harassing, intimidating and unlawfully arresting them.
“We are not against the fight against corruption, if you serve public office, you must be accountable to the people and we will never as an institution support anybody who uses public office to steal public funds even as IYC is not justifying crime.
“What we are seeing in Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade is that it is targeted at Niger Delta people and those who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan administration.
Eradiri alleged that the invitation of Tompolo by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was a ploy by the federal government to slam terrorism and other related charges on him, noting further that the move shows that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government is not prepared to rule the country in peace.
Eradiri described the plan to arrest the ex-militant leader as ‘unnecessary, vindictive and witch-hunt.’
“What is presently playing out is selective and vindictive attack on political enemies and this must be rejected and condemned by all.
“We wish to warn that harassment of political enemies would not in any way aid the success of the Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade but would only lead to its derailment.”
