Ex-IYC President  Lampoons Atiku’s Presidential Ambition … Declares It Negative Impact On N’Delta 

Former President of the umbrella Ijaw Youths body, the Ijaw Youths Council (Worldwide), Engr. Udengs Eradiri, has urged former Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to forgo his presidential ambition come 2027.

The ex-youth leader and former Labour Party’s (LP) Governorship candidate in the 2023 governorship election in the state made this known recently while speaking with newsmen.

He described Atiku as a serial failure, noting that the erstwhile Vice President’s bids to occupy the nation’s seat of power has done untold damage to the development of the Niger Delta region.

“Atiku’s ambition has destroyed the reputation of some of the respected leaders of the Niger Delta region. Moreso his ambition is insensitive, desperate and is  threatening the peace of the country”, he said.

While explaining how Atiku’s Presidential ambition had negatively impacted the Niger Delta region, Eradiri stressed that the late former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was humiliated, suffered and died because of his relationship with Atiku.

The Tide learnt that the former IYC President once served as Commissioner for Youths and later Environment in Bayelsa.

“Remember that the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori ‘s political alliance with Atiku was part of the reason he was thrown into jail.

“Atiku was part of those who teleguided the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, gave him deceptive assurances that worsened his ordeal.

“At the buildup to the 2023 election, Atiku’s inordinate ambition and his desperation plunged Delta State into huge debts as he used former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to bankroll his campaigns in exchange for Vice-presidential ticket.

“His  ambition destroyed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and attempted to destabilise the country by ignoring the zoning arrangement of the presidency between the north and the south.

“Atiku demonstrated the highest level of desperation, unreasonableness and lack of patriotism in 2023 when he cornered  the Presidential ticket of the PDP to retain power in the North despite former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in office.

“I want to call on Alhaji Abubakar to demonstrate statesmanship by jettisoning his ambition to be President of Nigeria. This call is not political, it’s borne out of unbiased assessment of the damage his ambition has caused the people of the Niger Delta”, Eradiri added.

He alleged that till date, Delta State was still indebted financially because of former governor Okowa’s association with Atiku’s ambition, saying that 2027 was still the turn of  Southern Nigeria to retain power after the North had done two terms, but that Atiku was still insisting on becoming the President and today opposition has been alienated because of Atiku.

“The PDP is in tatters today because of Atiku. Therefore, it is clear that Atiku’s ambition is bringing untold hardship especially for us in the Niger Delta. It’s creating the problem that is destabilising the Nigerian polity.

“Every society needs a virile opposition for the ruling party to sit up. But Atiku’s ambition has dealt a deadly blow on PDP, which many people relied upon to provide this opposition.

“The country would be more peaceful and the rising tension will also be toned down if Atiku supports the South to complete their tenure”, the ex-IYC President said.