A civil rights organisation, Vanguards
of Nigeria’s Democracy, on Saturday raised the alarm over alleged moves
by President Muhammadu Buhari to “investigate, malign and imprison”
ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on trumped-up charges.
The group accused the President and his All Progressives Congress-led administration of anti-Niger Delta tendencies.
The group referred to the ongoing
controversy between a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala and Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole over Excess Crude
Account and allegations as a ploy to get at former President Goodluck
Jonathan.
But
the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Mr. Femi
Adesina, described the allegation by the group as mere speculation.
Adesina asked why people would dwell on
speculations when nothing concrete has been established against former
President Jonathan.
He said, “All these are speculations and
I cannot react to speculations because there is nothing concrete yet
against the former President.”
The spokesperson of VND, Mr. Osaghae Ogiemudia, in a statement obtained by SUNDAY PUNCH
in Abuja, also claimed that anti-Niger Delta and anti-Ijaw posturing of
the APC-led government of Buhari has been demonstrated in several ways.
He said, “We the members of the
Vanguards of Nigeria’s Democracy, are aware of some clandestine moves
made by the APC-led government to probe, investigate, malign and
imprison ex-President Jonathan. We are already aware of the trumped-up
charges the APC government is levelling against a man who has diligently
served the Nigerian state at the highest level of government.
“The APC led government should take
notice that the appointments made so far are skewed in favour of the
North, as no Ijaw man has been appointed. While an Ijaw President did
not discriminate in appointment, President Buhari is implementing a
Northern agenda thorough some of the appointments.”
According to him, Buhari unilaterally
cancelled the waterway surveillance and security contract awarded to the
Delta-born Ijaw businessman, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo.)
The group also criticised the sacking of
the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency, Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi and described it as “one of the
principal appointments given to the Ijaws of Bayelsa State.”
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