The Ijaw Youth Council is a civil right organization in Nigeria, founded in 1998, to support the interests of the Ijaw ethnic group of the Niger Delta.
The group has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to postpone any plan to “persecute” ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.
Mr. Udengs Eradiri, the IYC president, especially criticised the recent arrest and detention of Robert Azibaola over an alleged $40m contract fraud.
He said: “They have arrested almost all our people. Azibaola was arrested by the EFCC and we are calling on the EFCC to stop persecuting him further and charge him to court if there are issues.
“They detained him for a long time, forcing him to make statements to indict former president Jonathan. Azibaola is a businessman, a contractor, and has the right, like every other Nigerian, to get contracts. Why will the Niger Delta case be a different one?
“We noticed that the same way they persecuted Alamieyeseigha has continued. After Goodluck Jonathan, our people who contributed to that administration, are being persecuted by this government.
“The recent one is the ploy to arrest Goodluck Jonathan, which is unfolding every day. This must stop. Goodluck Jonathan is the most performing President that Nigeria has ever had. We are proud of him.
“Everyday, there is a calculated attempt to whittle down the achievements of former president Jonathan. We call on Nigerians to mount pressure on the government to focus on leading Nigeria right rather than looking for ways to bring down the achievements of Jonathan.
“Buhari should please focus on governance rather than persecution of people who have added value. We are not happy about it and today, we use Alamieyeseigha’s death as a point of contact. The world has seen that from Alamieyeseigha, it has trickled down to all the Niger Delta people.”