Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
Crusaders, under the auspices of the 21st Century Youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience, have condemned mischief makers for allegedly embarking on a campaign of calumny against Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The 21st CYNDAC, in a statement on Monday by its Coordinator, Izon Ebi, said the duo of Tompolo and Akpabio deserved commendation, not lampoon, for averting youths’ hostilities and renewed agitations in the region.
Recall that Tompolo had on May 3, 2021 given the Federal Government seven-day to constitute a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) or contend with total shutdown of the region with renewed youths agitations and restivenes.But Akpabio, not wanting the situation to escalate, reached out to Tompolo and other stakeholders in the region in a meeting where the minister promised that the NDDC board would be reconstituted on or before end of June.
The 21st CYNDAC wondered why some mischievous stakeholders misconstrued the positions of Akpabio and Tompolo despite their noble intentions and honest desires to ensure peace and harmony in the region.
It said: “We received with shock, the insinuations being peddled by some mischief makers in the region about the bold and noble steps taken by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, to navigate the creeks of Gbaramatu Kingdon to douse tensions and avert the plans by mischief makers to set the Niger Delta ablaze, truncate the forensic audit and inauguration of NDDC board.”Seeing that their plan to incite the region, royal fathers, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Tompolo and others against Akpabio has failed, the merchants of violence without shame have now resorted to peddling blackmail, falsehood and propaganda against the minister and Tompolo.
“It is with deep shock and shame seeing some of the so-called political leaders from Gbaramatu Kingdom embarrassing themselves by making mockery and caricature of the Oporoza meeting which had distinguished personalities, stakeholders, monarchs and other stakeholders in attendance.”
It is hightime they stopped the primitive politicking and insane vituperations borne out of hatred and jealousy. It portends great danger, not only to the Ijaw nation, but to the entire Niger Delta region.”
The crusaders, therefore, urged disgruntled stakeholders to allow peace reign in the Niger Delta for the sake of the people and development of the region.
The 21st CYNDAC added: “Youths in the region are jobless not because they are lazy but because there is no visionary leadership and commitment to change the ugly narratives.
“Finally, we call on Niger Deltans to disregard the falsehood against Tompolo and the Akpabio as well as the newly-appointed Chairman of the NDDC, Chief Bernard Okumagba because he is a round peg in a round hole.”End.