By  Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—THE immediate past Edo State representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr Mathew Iduoriyenkenwen, has warned youths from the Niger Delta against allowing themselves to be used by  politicians outside the region to destabilize the nation due to the Presidential ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.

This comes as a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state, Reverend Ukpomwan Egharevba, condemned the killing of innocent Nigerians during last week’s bomb blast in Abuja. He urged the Federal Government to ensure that those involved in the dastardly act were arrested and prosecuted, so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

Iduoriyenkenwen, who spoke while reacting to the bomb blasts in Abuja, regretted that some youths in the Niger Delta region could be used to disrupt the peace of the nation, particularly on the occasion of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the nation’s independence, even when the President of the nation is from the region.

He said “there is no doubt that with the achievements of President  Jonathan so far, some people who feel that they own this nation may want to destabilize the polity because they are aware that his achievements will guarantee him another presidential opportunity after the 2011 elections.

But it becomes worrisome when our own people will allow themselves to be used due to the selfish interest of others.

“After the death of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, President Jonathan being a son of the Niger Delta, has kept faith with the Niger Delta master plan and the amnesty programme.

There is no doubt that electricity has improved since he personally took over the management of that sector. So it will be wicked for any body to go bombing so as to get at him,” he added.

That is why as we are heading towards elections, I will appeal to our youths in the Niger Delta to beware of some dangerous politicians who may want to use them so as to destabilize the nation” he stated.

On his part, Rev. Egharevba, who described the bombing as an act of terrorism, urged the Federal Government to treat the matter “the way  and manner that the United States treat issues like that because if that matter is not properly handled, it means this nation may turn to another Pakistan or Afghanistan and there will be uncertainty in the polity”.