David-West Cautions Ijaw Over Fuel Subsidy Crisis

FORMER Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West has cautioned the Ijaw against giving ethnic coloration to the fuel subsidy removal crisis.

He told The Guardian in Port Harcourt yesterday that it was wrong for some Ijaw leaders and persons from the Niger Delta to conclude that resistance against fuel subsidy removal was aimed at frustrating and possibly ousting of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The former minister, an Ijaw, who described the fuel subsidy issue as a national one, reminded those who are ascribing ethnic meaning to the ongoing nationwide strike, to recall that the president did not win the April 2011 election with only the votes from the Niger Delta and the Ijaw.

David-West said: “What they are doing is not good for the image of the president. Those protesting on the basis of ethnicity are merely interested in the money they can make from the president and also seeking relevance. Jonathan is the president of Nigeria and not the Ijaw.”

He warned those trying to wipe up ethnic sentiments not to compound the president’s problem by alienating him from other nationalities in the country.

“Jonathan only got 24 per cent of his votes from the South-South. He is able to occupy Aso Rock because of the votes from other parts of Nigeria. There is a serious need for people to be circumspect at this critical moment,“ he said.

David-West who has maintained that petrol should not be sold for more than N40 in the country, said it was inhumane for the Federal Government to plunge Nigeria into the present political and economic crisis.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73803:-david-west-cautions-ijaw-over-fuel-subsidy-crisis&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

While some have chosen to sell their soul for money and speak in favour of subsidy removal blindly, the likes of David West, one of the most refined and respected Niger-Deltan, has chosen to go the way of honour and dignity. I hope beaf and his clique don't come here to betray one of their most truly respected men. The message is crystal clear, there are no ethnically motivated protests anywhere.

The man has spoken well.

I noticed some people have actually turned the issue around to become an issue of tribalism.

And like the former minister noted, GEJ did not win the elections only because the ijaw people voted for him. The ijaws should bear that in mind.

The fight is against corruption and bad governance, and not about tribe, because thats where most people get iτ̅ wrong.

nanidee:

The man has spoken well.

I noticed some people have actually turned the issue around to become an issue of tribalism.

And like the former minister noted, GEJ did not win the elections only because the ijaw people voted for him. The ijaws should bear that in mind.

The fight is against corruption and bad governance, and not about tribe, because thats where most people get iτ̅  wrong.

very well said, I am tired of this country the way they turn it into ethnic issue so fast

very uneasy country. I must say

Also South-South and Niger-delta youths have dissociated themselves from this madness of supporting corruption just because of ethnicity

Some South-east states as well such as anambra and Imo

"WARRI— FORMER South-South youth leaders, led by erstwhile national vice president of the National Youth Council, Mr. Mumakai-Unagha, have differed with  South-South elders, who, during the  week, declared support for President Goodluck Jonathan on the removal of fuel subsidy.

After an emergency meeting convened in Warri, Delta State, the youth leaders rejected the removal of fuel subsidy.

They said: “President Goodluck  Jonathan should listen to the voice of Nigerians and revert to status quo of N65.00 per litre as the removal of subsidy will further impoverish the down-trodden Nigerians, who  are living from hand to mouth and further enrich the cabal, that are in government.

“The Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, identify the cabal and they should be brought to book in accordance with the law of the federation.”

The youth leaders said the issue of fuel subsidy “goes beyond ethnic borders

“Mr. President should not put the South – South region in a disadvantaged position in the politics of Nigeria, as the decision on the removal of fuel subsidy has cast a negative image on the entire region,” they added."

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/s-south-youths-disagree-with-elders-over-removal-of-fuel-subsidy/

sheyguy:

David-West Cautions Ijaw Over Fuel Subsidy Crisis

FORMER Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West has cautioned the Ijaw against giving ethnic coloration to the fuel subsidy removal crisis.

He told The Guardian in Port Harcourt yesterday that it was wrong for some Ijaw leaders and persons from the Niger Delta to conclude that resistance against fuel subsidy removal was aimed at frustrating and possibly ousting of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The former minister, an Ijaw, who described the fuel subsidy issue as a national one, reminded those who are ascribing ethnic meaning to the ongoing nationwide strike, to recall that the president did not win the April 2011 election with only the votes from the Niger Delta and the Ijaw.

David-West said: “What they are doing is not good for the image of the president. Those protesting on the basis of ethnicity are merely interested in the money they can make from the president and also seeking relevance.  Jonathan is the president of Nigeria and not the Ijaw.”

He warned those trying to wipe up ethnic sentiments not to compound the president’s problem by alienating him from other nationalities in the country.

“Jonathan only got 24 per cent of his votes from the South-South. He is able to occupy Aso Rock because of the votes from other parts of Nigeria. There is a serious need for people to be circumspect at this critical moment,“ he said.

[b]David-West who has maintained that petrol should not be sold for more than N40 in the country, [/b]said it was inhumane for the Federal Government to plunge Nigeria into the present political and economic crisis.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73803:-david-west-cautions-ijaw-over-fuel-subsidy-crisis&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

This is a reasonable ijaw man unlike the likes of beaf,kuku and others who have collected money from jonathan to whip up tribal sentiments in order to force other ethnics to accept the policy.The movement of the people will continue to fight against the injustice of jonathan's government on them.Long live the Masses !

^^
^^
Everyday for the thief, but one day for the owner. The ppl of ND av had leaders and voices who av sold them out for ages. So many conspiracy theories av been used to brainwash these guys, but i am glad the ND is finally getting better opinions from a new set of pple.

Good one from the former minister. If anyone knows about the oil industry, it is Tam David-West. Pray GEJ will listen to the voice of reason and heed to the calling of the elders.

David West has spoken well yet he says nothing we have not concluded on NL already i.e the notion that making this an ethnic issue only actually worsens things for GEJ and the SS. What will be cemented in the minds of most, beyond this subsidy crisis, is the notion of how some , when it really mattered, regretably failed to see Nigeria only to pitch their tent blindly while choosing , most distastefully, to view the rest of us as enemies, rather than fellow Nigerians,  through the repeated insistence that we are "parasites", lazy folks" and failed politicians" trying to bring down GEJ. Jonathan, from day one, has always been very cynically divisive and happy to take advantage of ethnic intolerance. He continues to be that way without thinking that there is life beyond 2015 if Nigeria makes it that far.

True talk and I hope those oil-hugging,laulau baby militants would listen.

taaa if we want to protest corruption in nigeria lets do it once and for all. lets catch those theifs starting from my Local government area till Abuja not the other way round.
david west should know the different here. i hate solving a problem half harzard.

if we decide to bring all the corrupt politicians to book tell me the zone that will suffer the most,its the NE/NW.
do you know wat will follow when that is done,the north will boil.

Alj harem bear in your mind that the most enemy of all nigerians are the Fulani's.

Nigerians di egwu! How did this struggle for a new start and justice become ethnicised abeg? I can't believe that ppl who have been suffering will still support somebody oppressing him even more. is it illiteracy or plain opportunism

Nigerians di egwu! How did this struggle for a new start and justice become ethnicised abeg?

it started with the likes of beaf who r ever ready to divide the populace for SS sake.

@ 9ja voice,

its not "half harzard", but "haphazard".