‘President Buhari naturally shot himself in the foot’ – Niger Delta youth group

– The Ijaw Youths Council condemned President Muhammadu Buhari over his recent statement about pipeline vandals

– Buhari said in China that his administration would crack-down on vandals and give them the same treatment given to Boko Haram insurgents

– The group described the president’s statement as condemnable as it may scare away potential investors

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) described President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement on the preparedness of his administration to deal with pipeline vandals like Boko Haram terrorists as “anti-Niger Delta”.

Last week, during his visit in China Buhari warned oil and gas pipeline vandals to desist immediately or face the same drastic actions being taken against members of the Boko Haram sect by the army.

According to Sahara Reporters, Comrade Udengs Eradiri, the president of the IYC, described the position of the president as condemnable, considering the investment purpose of his visit to China.

He also noted that Buhari’s statement may scare away potential investors who know that the deployment of bombs and armed forces will destroy their possible investment in the region.

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“We condemn the statement by President Buhari. President Buhari went to China for discussions on possible investments and began to say that he will deal with pipeline vandals like Boko Haram. It is wrong.

“It shows that President Buhari does not have the true picture of the Niger Delta. For him to make such statement, it shows he is not current with investment trends of the world. The statement shows that he will be sending bombs and troops to the Niger Delta like he does against the Boko Haram sect. The investors will become scared because they know that the deployment of bombs and troops will destroy their possible investment in the region.

“President Buhari naturally shot himself in the foot. How can he go to China to discuss business and investment with proposed payments with resources from the Niger Delta and while threatening the custodians of such means of payment? He also discussed investments without considering citing where in the Niger Delta the wealth would be sourced. It is laughable and wrong. 95 per cent of the wealth needed to service the China-Nigeria agreement is located in the Niger Delta,” the statement read in part.

READ ALSO: Police go after pipeline vandals, see what they recovered (photos)

According to the group, the administration’s focus on the battle against pipeline vandalism is misplaced. Therefore, it called on Buhari to investigate and arrest sponsors of the attacks rather than the vandals themselves.

The group alleged that those behind the pipeline vandals are in the military and the National Assembly.

A few days after Buhari vowed to deal with pipeline vandals like Boko Haram terrorist, a group came out to claim responsibility for the vandalism and vowed to carry out more attacks.

“We are not deterred by such threats as we are highly spirited and shall continue blowing up pipelines until the Niger Delta people are no longer marginalized by the Nigerian actors,” the group said.

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