…As Group credits ex-President, Jonathan, for Osinbajo’s fruitful tour of Niger Delta
Oscarline Onwuemenyi
02 March 2017, Sweetcrude, Abuja – Nigeria’s Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is set to resume his tour of oil-producing states in the Niger Delta, with his planned visit Akwa Ibom State today (Thursday).
A statement from the Akwa Ibom State Government said plans have been concluded for the state visit of Osinbajo to the state.
The statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Charles Udoh, revealed that Prof Osinbajo would inspect the ongoing construction of the second runway at the Akwa Ibom International Airport shortly on arrival in the state by 1.00pm.
The Acting President will then pay a courtesy call on royal fathers in the state at the traditional rulers’ council.
Prof Osinbajo is expected to subsequently address a town hall meeting with stakeholders at the state Banquet Hall in Government House before departing from the state.
The statement said among those expected at the town hall meeting were members of the state elders council, royal fathers, representatives of the oil producing host communities, socio-cultural organisations, women leaders, and representatives of youths in the state.
The visit comes as part of the ongoing efforts by the federal government to interact with stakeholders in the Niger Delta region and find lasting solutions to the crisis in the oil-rich sub-region.
Meanwhile, the successful tour of some Niger Delta states by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo was achieved due to former president Goodluck Jonathan’s earlier visit to Gbaramatu kingdom.
A coalition of Niger Delta militant groups, the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) said this in a statement issued to newsmen yesterday.
The JRC spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte, said: “In the past few months, Osinbajo had said the right words and a good number of people in the Niger Delta have expressed satisfaction with his utterances. We will continue to watch with cautious optimism. We, however, wonder: Where were all these intellect and wisdom when his principal was in the saddle?
“It is important that we commend former president Jonathan for watering the ground before the trip by VP/AP Osinbajo. It was Goodluck Jonathan who made Osinbajo’s trip a success.
The militants claimed that when Jonathan visited Gbaramatu kingdom, he acted like a true statesman by advocating tolerance and co-operation with other sections of Nigeria as a strategy for bringing about peace and development in the region.
His utterances, they claimed, created the right atmosphere for the warm reception Osinbajo got in the region.In December 2016, former President Goodluck Jonathan was in Gbaramatu for the presentation of staff to the new paramount ruler of Gbaramatu, Oboro Gbaraun II, Aketekpe Agadagba, by Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
While commending the tour of some Niger Delta states by the acting president, the JRC stated that Osinbajo had shown good intellect and a great measure of wisdom.
“It is truly difficult to understand why a Goodluck Jonathan, whose tenure had been so vilified, wants to work for the success of the same people who have continued to try so hard to denigrate him. The Niger Delta may be angry with Goodluck Jonathan, but that same zone may erupt in violence because of Jonathan,” Whyte said.
The JRC blamed Buhari government’s failure to put things right in the Niger Delta on “the antics of satanic elements within the rank and file of agitating groups in the Niger Delta.”
