Bayelsa youths apologise to Jonathan, Sylva

By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa—The Bayelsa Youth Leaders Forum, yesterday, tendered an  apology to President Goodluck Jonathan and his host, Governor Timipre Sylva, over the unruly behaviour of youths, who pelted the Governor with plastic bottles and other objects, during a civic reception for the President.

The group described the incident as not only unacceptable but condemnable, saying that “no destructive means could give justification to any constructive end, as human conflicts of interest are never resolved without a trust  worthy give and take from both sides.”

Coordinator of the group, Mr Claudius Egba, who briefed newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, secretariat in Yenagoa, said though political differences abound in various states of the federation where Mr. President had visited, experiences have shown that such differences were down played to accord Mr. President a rousing welcome and wondered why the Bayelsa situation should be different.

“We wish to sincerely tender this unreserved apology to  President Jonathan, the Governor of Bayelsa State and other well meaning Nigerians who took time to grace the occasion.

“We are constrained to state unequivocally that the unruly behaviour of some these youths  is not only condemnable but unacceptable.”

He expressed regret over the incident, lamented that the action had portrayed the  youths of the state as unprepared leaders of tomorrow.

It is on record that political differences abound in various states of the federation where Mr. President had visited. Experience have shown that in such states such political differences were down played to accord Mr. President a rousing reception,” the group said.

The Bayelsa Youth Leaders Forum coordinator while expressing regret over the incident lamented that the action has portrayed the entire youths of the state as unprepared leaders of tomorrow.

“As leaders of tomorrow we are grounded in the most conceptualized indices of modern democracy which provide a standard framework for the channeling of grievances, crisis management and conflict resolution. It is sad to that, rather embrace this norms, some politicians chose that auspicious moment to incite violent expressions in the face of Mr. President, which paint Bayelsa youths in bad light,” the group noted.

While calling on the youths to be wary of such witty and cunning politicians it said cheap blackmail and political manipulations of the youths to satisfy such selfish and personal aggrandizements must be discouraged.