Ijaw youths protest alleged victimization of Goodluck Jonathan’s family

Ijaw youths in Bayelsa state today staged a protest over the alleged victimization of former President Goodluck Jonathan's family. The youths who were in their hundreds, blocked the Sani Abacha expressway, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, challenging the constant harassment of the former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).


 The protesting youths was led by the President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri.  Speaking, Eradiri said:

“This country has produced many presidents but the only one from the Niger Delta is constantly harassed by the mercenaries of state especially the EFCC. We want to call on the President to please respect former President Jonathan, at least for the fact that he brought peace to this country, handed over peacefully to him. He didn’t go to court. He allowed him to run this country, President Buhari should please focus on leadership and stop vilifying the first family. We appeal to Buhari to respect Jonathan the way he respects other past presidents. They have frozen his account; they are not paying his allowances. Even the security agencies around him do not get what is due them. Why is the Presidency victimizing Goodluck Jonathan? Patience Jonathan is is not the first First Lady in this country. A wife to former deputy governor, governor, Vice-President and President, are you expecting her to be a poor woman? There are other First Ladies in this country. In recent time, a former First Lady was awarded a university license. So, we are using this medium to send a message, leave our first family alone. Some people are not happy about Jonathan’s rising profile and they want to destroy it”.