Suspend your ambition to protect N/Delta, preserve Nigeria’s unity, Eradiri tells Atiku

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

A former President, Ijaw Youths Council Worldwide, Engr. Udengs Eradiri has called on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to jettison his presidential ambition.

Eradiri made a statement on Tuesday. He told Atiku that his repeated unsuccessful attempts to occupy Aso Rock Villa caused untold damage. This damage affected the development of the Niger Delta. These bids also destroyed the reputation of some of the respected leaders from the region.

Besides, Eradiri is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). He argued that Atiku’s insensitive and desperate ambition to become President was threatening the peace of the country.

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

Eradiri, a former Commissioner for Youths and later Environment in Bayelsa, also noted that a former Delta State Governor, Chief Onanefe Ibori ‘s political alliance with Atiku was part of the reason he was thrown into jail.

He said Atiku was part of those who tele-guided the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and gave him deceptive assurances that worsened his ordeal.

Eradiri recalled that at the buildup to the 2023 election, Atiku’s inordinate ambition led to Delta State incurring huge debts. He used former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to bankroll his campaigns. This was in exchange for a Vice-presidential ticket.

He observed that Atiku’s ambition destroyed the PDP and attempted to destabilise the country by ignoring the zoning arrangement of the presidency between the north and the south.

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

Eradiri said: “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 is borne out of unbiased assessment of the damage his ambition has caused the people of the Niger Delta.

The late former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, suffered and died because of his association with Atiku. Former Delta State Governor, Chief Onanefe Ibori, went to jail because of his association with Atiku.

“Delta State is indebted financially because of Okowa’s association with Atiku’s ambition. Sim Fubara of Rivers State was deceived by assurances from Atiku and his men. The Nigerian political space in recent times has suffered untold damage because of Atiku.

A period should be the turn of the South after the North had done two terms. However, you can see that Atiku is still insisting on becoming the President. 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 is 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 to PDP, which many people relied upon to provide this opposition.

Eradiri further told Atiku that the country would be more peaceful. The rising tension would also be toned down if he supported the South to complete their tenure.