Maritime Varsity: Ijaw youths demand apology from Amaechi

*As Aginighan urges FG to rescind decision

By Emma  Amaize & Jimitota Onoyume

WARRI—Reactions have continued to trail the decision of the Federal Government to scrap the Nigeria Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko, in Delta State, with the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Western zone, demanding an apology from the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

Also, an Ijaw leader and former acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Pastor Power Aginighan, has described as an error of judgment, the reported move by Amaechi to scrap the university which was set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Pastor Aginighan, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in a statement, said that the proposed action was against President Muhammadu Buhari’s assurance to redress challenges of underdevelopment facing the region.

Aginighan, who is the founding National Secretary, Ijaw National Congress, INC, expressed fears that the reported move by the Minister of Transport would upset the atmosphere of peace in the region, stressing that the coming of the university brought joy to the Ijaw nation and people of the region.

Meanwhile, IYC Western zone, comprising Edo, Delta and Ondo States, made the call at a meeting in Bomadi, presided over by its chairman, Freedom Atigbi.

In a communiqué by the Information Officer, Napoleon Kenerekedi, the youths said it was an insult to the Ijaw nation for Amaechi to say that Gbaramatu Kingdom was unsafe for Nigerians from other parts of the country to come for learning.

The council said he should not only apologise but rescind the decision, “If the terrain is not conducive for Nigerians from other parts of the country, then it should also be unsafe for continued oil exploration activities by multinationals and the Nigerian government.”