The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has expressed fear that Nigeria “is descending towards full blown dictatorship under President Muhammadu Buhari” following the invasion of Edwin Clark’s Abuja residence by police operatives under the guise of searching for arms and ammunition.
IYC made its position known in a statement on Wednesday which was signed by Eric Omare, its President, while reacting to the police action on Tuesday.
“We completely disagree with the reason adduced for the invasion, which is suspicion of stockpiling arms and ammunition from the Niger Delta region.
“It sounds extremely ridiculous for any security agency worth its salt to think that Chief Clark at the age of 92 years would stockpile arms and ammunition in his house”, IYC said.
The youth body said it was convinced that the real reason behind the police raid was “to intimidate and stop him from hosting southern and middle belt leaders to speak against the killings in different parts of the country and the anti-democratic actions of the Buhari administration.”
The IYC, therefore, urged the elder statesman and Niger Delta leader, and other leaders of the south and middle belt not to be deterred by the antics of the security agencies, but continue to speak truth to power.
It also warned the police and other security agencies to desist from further harassment of the Ijaw leader, stressing that henceforth any act of intimidation of Clark would be resisted by Niger Delta youths.
“We would not sit down and allow Chief Clark, who is the Niger Delta leader, to be harassed when the Emirs and other leaders of the north are given their due respect,” IYC added.
