People of Ijaw extraction currently facing corruption probe in the country have been urged to honour invitations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
In a statement issued by Izon Okosu-Otu, the umbrella body of Ijaw Council of Elders, Delta State chapter, Warri, its chairman, Chief Bare Etolor, noted that in doing so they would be able to prove their innocence of such allegations.
It would be recalled that ex-militants’ leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), special adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, chairman of Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku; and former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, are among those invited by the EFCC and Department of Security Services, DSS, over corruption accusations.
However, the statement added that the Ijaw nation was also worried about the growing number of invitations to their sons and daughters, who it said, served the country well in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
“There is no gainsaying that every father must show concern on whatever happens to his child. The Ijaw nation is very worried about the recent invitation of some of our sons and daughters who have served this nation meritoriously.
“Their invitation, no doubt, is in furtherance of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Federal Government’s fight against corruption. Our sons and daughters, we believe, are not the only invitees by these anti-corruption agencies.
“It’s on this note that we call on any of our sons and daughters invited to graciously honour such invitation and prove his or her innocence. No one is above the laws of this country. Nobody, no matter how highly-placed, is bigger than the government. The law should be allowed to take its course,” the statement reads in part.
It appealed to the anti-graft agencies to employ civility and respect fundamental human rights while dealing with such issues.
“This, we believe, will save us from plunging this country into unnecessary ethnic uprising that would heat up the already tense ethnic fears in this country,” it added.
Describing them as embarrassing, the factions in the Ijaw National Congress, INC, the elders called on both factions to stay action and cease to act on behalf of the Ijaw people.
The elders in the statement called on traditional rulers of Ijaw nation to urgently intervene in the crisis.
Source: National Mirror Online News
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