Ijaw youths threaten to sabotage polls

Posted by admin Latest Politics Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

EGBEMA Ijaw youths have vowed to make the April polls impracticable in Warri North council area over what they termed as gross marginalization by the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The youths accused the state government of failing to carry them along since its inception.

They also accused Governor Uduaghan of failing to caution some of his Itsekiri aides who they claimed have been disrespectful to some of their leaders, expressing regret that some Itsekiri youths came to disrupt a crucial meeting they were holding last weekend, at one of their leader’s residence in Enerhen which almost led to a free-for-all.

Some of the Ijaw leaders who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity over the alleged incident said, however, that the Itsekiri youths did not go there to foment trouble as claimed. They maintained that they only went to have a word with the governor, noting that it was communication breakdown that almost led to a fracas but was promptly aborted.

Speaking on the issue, an Itsekiri youth leader at the scene told Vanguard that it was not true that they went to foment trouble in the home of the Ijaw leader. He said it was not in their character to do that. He said it did not happen and advised the Ijaw youths to embrace the Itsekiri as their real brothers in the area.

The Ijaw youths from Egbema community in Warri North who stated that they were not impressed with the performance of Governor Uduaghan as it pertains to political patronage so far, included Messrs Blackman Mike from Opuama; Tamaremi Tiemo of Tsekelewu; Wilfred Elebiri of Ogbinbiri and Ekios Gorroh of Ogbudugbudu communities respectively.

They called on Governor Uduaghan to correct these anomalies in practical terms or they would make the April polls in Warri North impracticable as they no longer have full confidence on him to protect their interest.

-Vanguardwp_posts