By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
The Arewa Consultative Youth Movement (ACYM), has distanced itself from publication for casting aspersions on Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State on the Nembe oil spill occasioned by the blowout of Santa Barbara Well 1, OML 29 operated by AITEO Exploration and Production Company Limited in Opu Nembe in the state.
The group explained that at no time did it contemplate challenging or condemning the position of the Governor of Bayelsa State or any other person on that unfortunate incident.
Briefing newsmen in Kaduna on Thursday, Mallam Sani Mohammed Ali, Director Media and Communications of the group, explained, “The ACYM is a responsible movement led by matured young Nigerians of Northern extraction, who believe in one Nigeria and the concept of “an injury to one is an injury to all”. Therefore, what affects the people of Nembe affects us too.
“We cannot be hasty and irresponsible in disparaging the statement of a Governor on an issue we know nothing about. How could we have commented against the Chief Security Officer of a state on a hazardous matter of this nature, when we have not visited the site of the disaster to see things for ourselves?”
He called on the governor, the good people of Nembe community, Bayelsans and the general public to disregard and discountenance the news in its entirety, stressing that the publication is indeed a fake and fallacious orchestration by the enemies of the state, who instead of commending the governor for empathising and sympathising with his people at the nick of time, decided to play politics with the incident, in order to downplay the severity of the horrendous incident.
The group condemned what it called “the malicious sponsors of the ill-intended news”, for not only politicising the misfortune that befell the innocent people of Nembe, but for also trying to introduce a regional and ethnic dimension to the situation.
The group added that the publication is intended to pitch the youth of the Niger Delta against their Arewa brothers, saying that they have failed as they have come of age and would not allow themselves to be used as pawns to fight political wars.
“The magnitude of devastation this has caused the source of livelihood of the people and the ecosystem of that side of the Niger Delta is alarming and a great source of concern to all men of good conscience,” the group opined.
According to Mallam Sani Mohammed Ali, after analysing the devastating calamity, they unequivocally support the position of Governor Diri and commend his people-oriented leadership for identifying with his people at the time of their need, pointing out that that is the hallmark of a responsible and responsive leader.
He called on the federal government to as a matter of urgency penalise the company and ensure it takes necessary steps to remedy the environment and to pay compensation and be more responsible in their operations going forward, to serve as deterrence to others.
He urged Aiteo Exploration and Production Company Limited to show more professionalism in its operations and be humane in its relationship with its host communities, while commiserating with the affected communities and the entire people of the Niger Delta on this horrific misfortune.
