The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on members of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to issue an unreserved apology to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, following what it described as an unwarranted attack on his character.
MOSIEND expressed strong disapproval over the IYC’s recent statements, which called for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove Senator Lokpobiri from his current role, accusing him of incompetence in handling the petroleum ministry and blaming him for the ongoing fuel scarcity and delays in the Port Harcourt refinery operations.
In a statement on Thursday, MOSIEND’s National President, Amb. Dr. Kennedy Tonjo West urged the IYC to retract their statements and apologize to Senator Lokpobiri.
West argued that the issues plaguing the petroleum sector and refinery delays stem from the previous administration’s failures, not from Lokpobiri’s actions.
He emphasized that Lokpobiri is working diligently to address inherited challenges.
West also criticized the IYC for publicly denigrating an Ijaw leader, labelling their actions as a misplacement of priorities and an unmerited display of aggression. He called for unity among the Ijaw people and urged the IYC to reconsider their approach, stressing the importance of supporting their leaders rather than undermining them.
MOSIEND’s leadership condemned the IYC’s use of derogatory language and questioned why the group targeted Lokpobiri specifically while ignoring other officials with greater responsibility for the current challenges in the petroleum sector. The statement concluded by urging IYC members to reflect on their actions and the damage caused to their community’s reputation.
West highlighted that the press release from the IYC was not representative of the entire organization, suggesting it was driven by a faction within the council. MOSIEND urged all Niger Deltans to reject the publication and stand by Senator Lokpobiri in his efforts to navigate the difficulties inherited from the past administration.
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