The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN Rivers State Chapter says Gov Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s statement with respect to Thursday early morning protest by the youths of Eleme is not only diversionary but capable of creating disaffection and inciting crisis between the two neighbouring communities of Eleme and Okrika.
Rather than address the deplorable state of their roads, high rate of youth unemployment and lack of infrastructural development in their area which were the basis for youths protest, Gov Amaechi was quoted to have reasoned that the protest was about land control against a particular community.
The ACN in a statement issued and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam regretted that Gov Amaechi could trivialize such serious issues raised by the Eleme Youths though ill-timed as bordering on land control.
More worrisome, jerry Needam noted was that the divisionary and inciting statement was made during the recent Oil and Gas International Conference at the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone at which foreign diplomats and investors were in attendance.
The ACN spokesman said though the misinformation emanated earlier from the chairman of Eleme Local Government Council and the member representing Eleme State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Gov Amaechi ought to have paused before taking sides and going public.
The ACN further argued that the unguarded inflammatory statement is capable of disrupting the fragile peace existing between the two council areas of Eleme and Okrika.
Dialogue, the ACN said remains the best option in addressing inter-ethnic issues other than a resort to use of unhealthy political language or approach.
The ACN blamed the Eleme Youths protest on the failure of PDP government at all levels to give priority attention to youth employment, provision of social amenities and the general welfare of the people which anger has accumulated over the years and is now finding expression through various outlets including the youths protests.
It therefore advised the PDP-led governments to brace up to the challenges of leadership and good governance and do the right things among which are the issues being agitated for by the Eleme Youths and refrain forthwith, from buck passing, and playing politics with serious matters while living in stupendous opulence with their families and sending their own children abroad at the expense of the agitating youths.
The ACN also warned politicians against any attempt to provoke avoiding crisis between the peaceful people of Eleme and Okrika, querying what they stand to gain from such sinister motive.
