Rivers
MOSIEND Hails Whyte’s Appointment As Commissioner …Urges IYC To Apologise To Lokpobiri
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), has congratulated Dr. Roland Obed Whyte on his appointment as commissioner and member of the Rivers State Executive Council.
MOSIEND described Whyte as a dedicated statesman and expressed confidence that his tenure will bring significant positive changes to the development of Rivers State.
MOSIEND, in a statement by its National President, Amb. Kennedy Tonjo West, said, “Your unwavering
commitments to the progress of our people have always been evident, and this new role is a testament to your hard work and integrity.
“We are confident that your tenure will bring significant positive changes and will contribute immensely to the development of Rivers State.
“As you step into this important position, please know that MOSIEND stands with you in your efforts to advance the cause of good governance and uplift the lives of our people
“We look forward to collaborating with you to achieve our shared goals and aspirations for the Niger Delta region.”
Meanwhile, MOSIEND has urged the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to tender an unreserved apology to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, for what it described as an unwarranted attack on his personality.
IYC had recently called on President Bola Tinubu to reshuffle his cabinet and move Lokpobiri to another office where his incompetence will not be noticed, alleging that the Ministry of Petroleum is too big for him to handle.
IYC also blamed Lokpobiri for the current fuel crisis in the country and the delay in the kick-off of Port Harcourt Refinery, accusing him of mismanaging his office and causing untold pain and hardship on citizens
But MOSIEND, in a statement by its National President, Amb. West, picked offence on the attacks on Lokpobiri and asked the IYC to immediately withdraw the statement and beg the minister for forgiveness.
West urged those behind the publication to take a deep moment to ask themselves if those things said about Lokpobiri are actually true because it is unbelievable that an Ijaw man can say such things about his own brother.
He said, ordinarily, MOSIEND wouldn’t have commented on the issue, but that after deep thinking, it saw the need to caution those behind the publication as it doesn’t reflect the true position of things.
West said for the records, Lokpobiri is not responsible for the delay in the commencement of Port Harcourt refinery, noting that the ugly developments responsible for the delay were caused by the past administration which failed to do the right thing despite the billions of naira approved for the project.
He said that it is not fair for anybody, especially an Ijaw man, to blame Lokpobiri for the delay in the commencement of operations in Port Harcourt Refinery, because the problems were inherited.
According to him, “We actually didn’t want to get involved in what is happening between IYC and Lokpobiri, but we have seen that it is the displacement of aggression.
“We saw this hike in fuel coming, because of how reckless the former administration handled matters, and we saw how the issue of the Port Harcourt Refinery played out. It is not Lokpobiri’s fault.”
MOSIEND added, “We have also resolved as Ijaws not to run down our people in spite of the misgivings against any public office holder, come to talk of it, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri is not the substantive minister of Petroleum Resources.
“Secondly, the refinery is not in his purview but NNPCL, so why would one try to rubbish him, and to what gain?
“It is regrettable, and shameful that our people could condescend so low to ask for replacement of somebody who is working round the clock to bring Mr. President’s mandate to fruition in spite of the hopeless situation inherited.
“It is also regrettable that of all people, it is his people that are behind the attacks, and not only that, it is coming from a respected institution like the IYC.
“We are asking that they render an unreserved apology to the Hon Minister.”
MOSIEND, however, called on the Minister to take an appraisal of his disposition towards his people and the Niger Deltans if it is one that deserves commendation or outright disapproval, hence warranting such lash out from his kinsmen.
Chinedu Wosu