One of the
youth leaders in the Niger Delta region, Tiena Ako, has frowned at
subtle campaign for the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari...
Known for his outspokenness, Ako the youth leader of Aladija community
in Udu local Government Area of Delta State, said those trying to lure
the president to re-contest did not wish him well. He saluted the
courageous stance of the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, for
boldly declaring her support for former vice president Atiku Abubakar,
even while serving as Buhari’s minister. The youth leader, who escaped
assassination attempt recently, also sought protection of security
agencies and told Austin Ofoma that there was no hope for Nigeria unless
it is restructured.
If President Buhari comes out in 2019 for the office of the President, will you vote for him?
I hope you are not among those that are
not wishing the President well? How can Buhari vie for 2019 presidential
elections? The man is very old for that office and whoever or whatever
that is giving him such ambition does not like President Buhari. He was
very active about 34 years ago when he was president of this country. He
is now in and out of hospital due to ill health. For those of us who
love him, I will advise him not to even think of it. Those who are
telling him to vie for the position are his real enemies. The politician
should allow that man to rest and allow the younger people to take
over. How old was I in 1983 when Buhari was the military head of state?
When would my own generation lead the country? The man is old enough to
retire from politics.
What do you think about the recent
statement credited to the Minister of Women Affairs, Haija Aisha
Alhassan, to support the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, in 2019 election?
The minister may have considered the age,
the health issues and the style of the president and decided to play
the joker card at this time though still serving in the Buhari
government. I don’t think she has spoken evil to the president; she may
have meant well for Buhari. We need more of the type of the minister in
this country to move this country forward if we want to have Nigeria as
one nation.
Everybody seems to be calling for the restructuring of Nigeria. What is your take on this?
You and I know that the country is not
and can never be one with the magnitude of the injustice we experience.
We are different people fused together by human beings for their own
selfish interest. So, if we want to tell ourselves the truth, we are
three countries and many islands. However, whatever you restructure
without making every state to control their resources and pay certain
percentage to the centre will amount to injustice. The centre cannot be
collecting revenue from some states and distribute to all other states.
Chief Audu Ogbeh, the minister of
Agriculture and rural development stated that herdsmen, farmers’ clashes
wouldn’t end soon. What’s your comment on that?
Sometimes, I wonder if our so-called
leaders do reason before they speak. The minister is another man who has
enjoyed in all the government that ruled in Nigeria since 1999. I want
to ask, how many herdsmen that have murdered villagers and farmers in
different parts of the country are in prison for the atrocities they
have committed? The herdsmen will come to your community, take over your
farmland and your stream with their cow and when you challenge them,
you will be attacked, maimed or killed and the government will become
dumb about it. The honorable minister said that he couldn’t give us a
date when the conflict will end. You first requested that every state
must give up certain portion of their land for cattle rearing. Why can’t
they do like others who buy or rent a shop or space to set up your
factory to produce or, maybe, because this is a business of the brothers
of the president? So, they are entitled to do as they please? Those
cattle owners sould buy land and create ranches for their cattle instead
of forcing communities to relinquish their farmlands to them or risk
being killed.
Why did you send an SOS to the IGP?
I sent an SOS to the Inspector General of
Police because some people I suspect to be youths in my area want me
dead. As a youth leader, I try to dissuade the youth from destruction of
oil facilities, such as pipelines. I make them see that pollution from
such destruction could harm our people. I think some of them
misconstrued me and alleged that I was on the government’s side and that
the Federal Government is using me to sabotage their efforts. They even
claim I am on the payroll of the government. However, I don’t know if
they have any other thing against me or maybe someone paid them to
eliminate me for whatever reason. They invaded my house with the
intention to kill me but only God knew how I escaped. They set my family
house ablaze and watched as the house burnt. They have sworn to track
me down wherever I am. Right now, I don’t know my next move though I
have petitioned the security agencies. But honestly, I’m very afraid. I
say so because after escape to Lagos, they still trailed me here and
attempted to assassinate me again on September 8, 2017, along Osolo Way
in Ajao Estate where they blocked my friend’s car I was driving. But for
the quick intervention of a police patrol car, it would have been a
different story. When they saw the police patrol vehicle, they zoomed
off but have been calling me on phone and threatening that they would
not give up until they eliminate me and my family.
What do you think about the quit notice Niger Delta youths gave northerners and Yoruba in the region?
I believe that quit notice came after the
one issued to the Igbo, living in the North by the Arewa youth. It is
very unfortunate. I am not against anybody living in any part of the
country so long as you do not inflict pains and suffering on your host
community. I believe if justice and equity have been the order of the
day in Nigeria at all levels, we would remember that we are of different
tribes in this country.
However, we are all suffering. The rich
politicians are getting treatment abroad, including the president while
we die because of lack of well-equipped hospitals.
The politicians send their children to
schools overseas while our teachers here are on indefinite strike and
our graduation date is in their hands. Even when we finally graduate, we
have no jobs to employ us while their children are begged to come back
to boss us. Considering these things, I believe that as the youths of
this country, we must not allow ourselves to be used as thugs to rig
them into leadership positions. Let us rather stand up to our rights and
make them to do the right thing.
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