A former Vice Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Central Zone, Comr. Amiebi Turner has condemned a statement attributed to four national executives of the IYC allegedly calling for the sack and resignation of Nigeria’s oil minister, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.
Turner, who named the four persons to be Maobuye Nangi Obu (Secretary General), Abiye Bob- Manuel (Deputy Director of Mobilization), Miracle Iyaye (Women Leader), and Tamunotonye David (Legal Adviser), said their actions are in bad taste and an abuse of office.
According to him, Lokpobiri should be protected by all persons from the Ijaw ethnic stock given his exalted position in the current dispensation.
While describing the said statement as despicable and an aberration from IYC executives, the youth leader submitted that their actions do not represent the values and qualities of their roles.
He therefore called for the suspension of the four IYC national executive members, in his capacity as a stakeholder of the foremost Ijaw youth body.
Turner further passed a vote of confidence in Lokpobiri for his competence and achievement in the petroleum industry, assuring that the minister will continue to effect positive change in the oil sector.
The statement partly reads:
“The position of the Minister for Petroleum Resources must be jealously guided by all Ijaw people and henceforth, no group or individual should call for either sack nor replacement of any Ijaw leader occupying public office in the current Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I wish to pass a vote of confidence in Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri for his competence and continuous achievement in the petroleum industry.
“I am optimistic that with Lokpobiri as the Junior Minister of the Petroleum ministry, the reforms in the oil sector will bring about the needed transformation in the oil industry.
“Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has increased capacity in the petroleum sector and his experience in leadership is an added advantage to the Federal Executive Council and the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
