IYC Condemns Attempt to Frustrate Take-Off of Maritime University, NIMASA Science & Technical College

…Says Its Political Victimization Taken Too Far

By Francis Sadhere

The Ijaw Youth Congress, Worldwide has condemned alleged attempt by the present government of President Mohammadu Buhari to frustrate the take off of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko and the NIMASA Science and Technology, Okoloba, both in Delta State, saying its political victimization taken to far.

The IYC stated this today in a press statement signed by it’s spokesman, Barrister Eric Omare and made available to our correspondent in Warri.

Barr. Omare lamented that since assumption of office, all steps taken by President Buhari and his kinsmen with respect to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) are all geared towards the frustration of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, NIMASA Science and Technical College, Okoloba, Delta State and any project or programme perceived to be of benefit to the Niger Delta region.

The statement reads:

President Buharis administration has ordered all ongoing projects, programmes and the take-off of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko to be stopped, whereas other tertiary institutions in other part of the country where maritime programmes are being sponsored by NIMASA are allowed to continue. These institutions are Ibrahim Babangida University, Minna, Niger State, University of Lagos, Federal University of Technology, Gombe and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the approval for the maritime programmes in these institutions were given at same with the Maritime University, Okerenkoko.

The IYC is convinced that this is a continuation of President Buharis victimization of the Niger Delta region especially the Ijaw people as a fall out of the last Presidential election. This is totally unexpected of a statesman which President Buhari ought to be.

It would interest Nigerians and the world to know that these institutions and a few others are the only federal presence in the Ijaw areas of the Niger Delta region apart from the oil and gas facilities littered everywhere and acting as a curse and sorrow to our people. The IYC cannot fathom any reason why President Buhari administration cannot allow institutions that would address some of the educational challenges facing our people in the Niger Delta region, but is only interested in the free flow of the crude oil resources in the region.

The IYC, call on President Buhari to act like President of Nigeria by embracing all sections of the country rather than his very sectional approach to governance and political victimization of sections that did not support his Presidential ambition in the last elections. The Niger Delta people would not accept a situation where the federal government is only interested in the free flow of crude oil and not in the human and infrastructural development of the region.