February Polls: Itsekiris Move Against Jonathan, Rally Support For Buhari
The Itsekiri nation, under the aegis of a socio-political group, Itsekiri Legacy Rebirth (ILR), has vowed to work against President Goodluck Jonathan in the February general elections even as they promised to rally support for the aspirations of the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer, Mohammadu Buhari.
Describing President Jonathan as a “promise breaker” who doesn't deserve their votes, the group led by Dr. Alex Ideh, said President Jonathan's cancellation of the inauguration of the ground-breaking ceremony of the Ogidigben Export Processing Zone (EPZ) last November was a “big disappointment” to millions of Nigerians, not just Itsekiri people or Deltans, and a failure of the Jonathan's administration.
The group said President Jonathan had failed to keep his promises, stressing that besides this, it does not see him as one with capacity to lead Nigeria right.
According to Ideh, it was his duty to enlighten Itsekiri people to vote against Jonathan, maintaining that their people's votes would to the APC .
“My position has always been very clear about this; Itsekiri will do APC this time around, very certain about that, Itsekiri will do APC, so if you see many of our members being APC, it's just coincidence.”
“I don't see this president as someone who has capacity, I think Buhari will do a better job, I have said so times without number without mincing words and it's in my place to guide my people and guide them right.”
“The several postponement of the EPZ groundbreaking ceremony is one of the reasons we say the president does not keep his words. This is a president who promised in the presence of millions of Nigerians that he's coming to do the ground breaking.”
“He broke his promise, not only to Itsekiri, but to the people of Delta state and to the whole of Nigeria, the whole of Nigeria would have benefitted from that project. Slowing it down was not the best and there was no reason for him to have done that,” Ideh declared during a courtesy visit to the palace of Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, to present some of its members contesting for political offices in next month's elections.
According to Ideh, “we have come to showcase our members; members of Itsekiri Legacy Rebirth, who are vying for positions in the coming elections. That is what we have come to do. His Majesty was very satisfied that we have presented to him credible Itsekiri young men who are running for offices.”
The group 's declaration came few days after President Jonathan's weekend visit to the Olu of Warri to seek his blessing for his re-election bid and promising to fast-track the inauguration of the Ogidigben EPZ project.