It also expressed concern over the alleged harassment of Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, saying, “We also call on the EFCC to have a rethink on its ill-advised invitation of Chief Ekpemupolo and the threat to declare him wanted. The IYC strongly feels that such politically motivated actions of the anti-corruption agency would only succeed in heating up the polity and causing unrest in the Niger Delta region.”
The IYC also accused the President Mohammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of alleged selective persecution of political enemies.
President of the IYC, Udengs Eradiri, in an interview in Yenagoa, lamented the treatment allegedly meted to the former NIMASA boss, describing the conduct of the security operatives as reminiscent of the military era.
He said: “It is the height of impunity which must be condemned by all lovers of democracy. We condemn in strong terms, the aggressive and oppressive tendencies of the security agencies against Niger Delta people and those who served in the last administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The conduct of the EFCC operatives in physically beating up and throwing Akpoboloukemi into their vehicle clearly shows that the Buhari-led government is not fighting corruption but persecution of political enemies.”
He said though the IYC was not against the fight against corruption, it must be done within the ambit of the law, respect for human rights and be all inclusive.
“What is presently playing out is selective and vindictive attack on political enemies and this must be rejected and condemned by all. We wish to warn that harassment of political enemies would not in any way aid the success of the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption crusade but would only lead to its derailment.”
He warned that the continued arrest of these personalities could trigger instability in the region, urging President Buhari to ensure that due process was followed in handling corruption charges.
He called on the Federal Government to allow the court to prove any suspects connected in the corruption charges guilty of the offenses, rather than harassing and intimidating and unlawful arrests.
“We are not against the fight against corruption. If you serve in public office, you must be accountable to the people and we will never as an institution support anybody who uses public office to steal public funds even as IYC is not justifying crimes, but it’s contents,” he said.
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