On Saturday, a civil rights organisation, Vanguards of
Nigeria’s Democracy raised an alarm over alleged moves by President Muhammadu
Buhari to “investigate, malign and imprison” ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on
trumped-up charges.
The said group accused the President and his All Progressives
Congress (APC) led administration of anti-Niger Delta tendencies and referred
to the ongoing controversy between the former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala and Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole over Excess Crude Account
and allegations, as a ploy to get at former President Goodluck Jonathan.
However Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the
President (Media and Publicity), described the allegation by the group as mere
speculation. Adesina asked why people would dwell on speculations when nothing
concrete has been established against former President Jonathan.
The spokesperson of VND, Mr. Osaghae Ogiemudia, in a
statement obtained by Sunday Punch in Abuja, also claimed that anti-Niger Delta
and anti-Ijaw posturing of the APC-led government of Buhari has been
demonstrated in several ways.
He said, “We the members of the Vanguards of Nigeria’s
Democracy, are aware of some clandestine moves made by the APC-led government
to probe, investigate, malign and imprison ex-President Jonathan. We are
already aware of the trumped-up charges the APC government is levelling against
a man who has diligently served the Nigerian state at the highest level of
government.
The APC led government should take notice that the
appointments made so far are skewed in favour of the North, as no Ijaw man has
been appointed. While an Ijaw President did not discriminate in appointment,
President Buhari is implementing a Northern agenda thorough some of the
appointments."
According to Ogiemudia, Buhari unilaterally cancelled the
waterway surveillance and security contract awarded to the Delta-born Ijaw
businessman, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo (also known as Tompolo.)
The group also criticized the sacking of the Director-General
of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Ziakede
Akpobolokemi and described it as “one of the principal appointments given to
the Ijaws of Bayelsa State.”
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