The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) yesterday, alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was concentrating his anti-corruption war on the Ijaw people from the Niger Delta part of Nigeria.
The council also reviewed activities of oil bunkerers and operators of illegal refineries in the Niger Delta and charged the Federal Government not to stop their activities unless it has alternatives for offenders.
President of the IYC, Udengs Eradiri, who stated this in a chat with journaists in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, claimed that engaging in the illegal activities was a means of livelihood for those involved.
He stated if the participants are stopped, it could give rise to another form of militancy in the region, which, at its peak, prior to 2009, reduced Nigeria’s crude oil production by about 50 per cent.
“Much as we support the war against oil theft, it must come with an economic plan as an alternative, so that as you are going in to stop them from their way of life, provide an alternative.
“Engage and employ the youths who engage in illegal refining of crude in the creeks. But when you do otherwise, there will be effects. That’s why you are seeing increase in crime rate, robbery is going up, kidnapping is on the increase, they are kidnapping even ice fish sellers now.
“It is because when you destroy their means of livelihood and you don’t create any alternative, it is a deliberate ploy to destabilise the Niger Delta so that businesses would not come here,” the leader stated br /> Eradiri also stated the recent arrest of Nigeria’s ex-Petroleum Resources minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, by British authorities for money laundering was a ploy against the Ijaws.
He said: “The UK government should stay away from Diezani.
“This was how they muzzled us and now (Diepreye) Alamieyeseigha is dead.
“Now they have started with Diezani. They should leave Ijaw people alone. Are there no other governors that have stolen?
“As far as we are concerned, the anti-corruption fight is a fight against the Ijaw people.”