Ijaw youths all over the Niger Delta have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari not to accept the plans to scrap the Maritime University at Okerenkoko, Delta State.
The youths argued that the university will address the marginalisation issue that has been apparent in the region for a long time, develop manpower in the maritime sector and help the Federal Government in its efforts to diversify the country’s economy noting the recent crash in Crude oil prices.
Also, Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade, FHRACC, and Committee for Rural Development Movement, have warned that the Federal Government would be encouraging mayhem if it does not rescind the plan to scrap the maritime university.
FHRACC, in a statement by its National President, Alaowei Cleric, said, “The plan by the Federal Government to scrap the Maritime University can provoke violence in the Niger Delta region.
“The university is the only gain from the Federal Government which can be regarded as a compensation to the educationally disadvantaged region. We recall that the Niger Delta region was once a hot bed of militant activities, which almost ran the country’s economy aground.”
Speaking to reporters at Ayakoromo, Delta State, President of Committee for Rural Development, Asiayei Enaibo, who described the plan to scrap the university as injustice by President Buhari to the Niger Delta region, said: “The Niger Delta region was sacrificially made calm and peaceful by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.”
The Ijaw youth, in a letter addressed to President Buhari, said they were disturbed by the proposed cancellation of the university by the Minister of Transportation and former governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.
In the letter by the President of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Udengs Eradiri, the youth kicked against the reasons adduced by Amaechi for the university’s cancellation.
They said that the reasons advanced by Amaechi when he briefed the Senate Committee on Marine, were weak, misleading, highly provocative and inciting.