The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has appealed to the feuding parties in the political crisis rocking Rivers State, to embrace peace for the overall interest of the people of the state.
Spokesman of the IYC, Mr. Bedford Benjamin, who made the call on Thursday, in a statement, said that the Niger Delta region cannot afford to be thrown into insecurity at this critical time of the nation.
“The peace enjoyed in the Niger Delta for about two decades now, has been taken for granted, and merchants of crisis are not happy about the relative peace in the oil- rich region.
“The recent happenings in Rivers State call for an urgent rethink, giving the serial blackmails, politically motivated media attacks, and the latest court verdicts, pressuring the region to forment avoidable crisis in the region for merchants to capitalise on the oil rich region to service their interest will not be accepted.
“The disposition of some paid majority in the Rivers State House of Assembly, calls for concern for the political health of the state and, by extension the region.
“A situation where one man’s position is against the vast majority, dwindles the lean patriotic fate of the democracy practiced, to the alleged highest bidder will not be condoned.
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“As the conscience of the youth group in the Niger Delta region, we weep with utmost dismay that the future promised by our leaders to be handed over to the next generation is in doubt, with the current happenings.
“As a youth group with a huge population in Nigeria geographical location, our dream seems mortgaged by some selfish sponsored power drunks leaders,” the statement said.
According to the IYC leader, the sponsored publications by enemies of the region, to instigate an ethnic war in Rivers State is dead on arrival.
He said the “unscrupulous elements,” parading as Ijaw youth leaders to give the Rivers State crisis an ethnic colouration are misguided, and should stop forthwith.
Benjamin stressed that Rivers people are wiser, and conscious of those who have them at heart to bridge the needed developmental gaps in the state.
“Democracy is the government of the people, and the people of Rivers State shall defy ethnic differences to defend the course of democracy in the state.
“The issue in Rivers State does not affect the Ijaws alone, but rather, the entire ethnic structure of the state must defend the course of democracy to be free from political tyranny,” he maintained
He called on Rivers people to remain united beyond political affiliations, and fight for their total liberation from tyranny and political slavery.
“The hypnotised 27 errand boys should know that it is between them and over four million Rivers people. The federal government should know that if Rivers State burns, as a result of this easy -to -solve political tussle, it is a slap on their Renewed Hope Agenda message preached by the administration under President Bola Tinubu, and a total rape on democracy,” Benjamin added.
