From Douglas Blessing, Port Harcourt
A group under the aegis of Niger Delta Professionals, has condemned the recent call by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), asking the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi to resign over his recent declaration to run for presidency.
Speaking with Journalists in Port Harcourt, the group stated that rather than attack Amaechi, the leadership of the NYCN should engage the minister on his achievements and capacity to lead the nation.
In the statement signed by its president, David Sikpa, said the youth NYCN was allegedly influenced to attack the presidential ambition of the Minister.
Sikpa who is also a public affairs analyst, stated “The NYCN has never had any issue with the performance of Amaechi in office until he declared for the 2023 presidential election.
“It is clear that NYCN has allowed itself to be used by weak persons who feel threatened by the undaunted personality and giant performance by the honourable minister of transport.
“Nigerians including victims have not indicted the minister in anyway as his humanity was demonstrated when he immediately along with security agencies, visited the scene of the Kaduna train attack and commiserated with the victims.
“Nigerians felt the pulse of his sadness over the news and it was clear the security and safety of travelers has always been a priority to him.
“The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has confidence in the minister of transport and no amount of sponsored campaign has and will derail that. Mr. Amaechi is a loyal subject of the president which every Nigerian knows and that earned him the traditional title ‘Dan Amanar Daura’ from Mr. President’s kinsmen
“Let it be known and clear for all to see that the National Youth Council of Nigeria seems to be constituting itself as an enemy of the president by attempting to discredit the president and our gallant security agencies but pretending that its attack is on Amaechi”.
He called on security agencies to investigate the activities of the NYSC and its leadership “to unmask who is using them against the goodwill of the President Buhari’s administration”.
The group further advised NYCN not to allow itself to be used against other aspirants, “it should seek to engage every aspirant as a non-partisan group it ought to be but I doubt they would as they have allowed themselves to be used for selfish gains”.
