WARRI- National President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide has accused President Muhammadu Buhari’s APC led administration of bias and double standard in handling Arewa youth leaders who issued quit notice to Igbos living in the north and other youth groups and agitators in the country, especially members of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) and Niger Delta agitators.
Barr, Eric Omare led factional group of IYC made the accusation Sunday in a press statement made available to DAILY WATCH in Warri, Said ‘‘It is the height of nepotism and sectionalism for the Buhari’s administration to treat the Arewa youth leaders who committed serious offence bothering on national security with kid gloves and been hosted to state dinners while leader of the Independent People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kalu is been threatened with arrest and several Niger Delta activist languishing in detention.’’
Omare said that the way and manner the Arewa youths were treated clearly justified IYC earlier position that the quit notice was politically motivated and had the backing of the Hausa/Fulani political class.
According to the IYC boss, ‘It is a further confirmation of the involvement of the political class was the presence of the Governor of Borno State and Chairman of the northern Governors’ forum, Gov. Shettima at the press conference to suspend the politically motivated quit notice and the state hosting of the Arewa youths leaders by the Governor of Kano State, Gov. Ganduje.
‘‘Nigerians would recall the questionable role played by Gov. Shettima in the controversial kidnap of the chibok girls to blackmail the Jonathan’s administration. The IYC is convinced that if the Arewa youth leaders were to be members of IPOB or from the Niger Delta region, they would have been in DSS underground detention cells by now. Even Gov. El Rufai of Kaduna state who earlier ordered for the arrest of the Arewa youth leaders has gone mute’’ he said
Omare noted that while the Arewa youths were enjoying state dinners, Niger Delta youth activists such as Ezekiel Daniel, Alex Odogu, ex-militant leader, Bonny Gawei and several others are in underground detention cells. Ezekiel Daniel has been in DSS detention for more than a year for mere facebook comment. ‘’This is sad and unacceptable’’ he quarried.
The IYC condemned the institutionalization of double standard in national affairs by the Buhari administration in the strongest terms.
IYC stated clearly that with the way and manner the Arewa youth leaders were treated, the Buhari administration has lost the justification to threaten to arrest Mr. Nnamdi Kalu or any other agitator in the southern part of Nigeria.
‘‘Nigerians ought to be treated equally irrespective of their place of origin or ethnic background. We also strongly advise against the planned revocation of the bail and arrest of the leaders of IPOB, Nnamdi Kalu. Arresting Nnamdi Kalu would set Nigeria in flames. Niger Delta activists such as Ezekiel Daniel, Alex Odogu and others in detention should be released without further delay’’ the statement said.
