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.

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