Niger Delta Youth Critical Stakeholders Urge Imo People To Disregard Allegations Against ISOPADEC MD, Onyedebelu, Condemn Attack As Baseless, Warn Mischief Makers_

RE: SUSTAINED ATTACKS AGAINST CHIEF AUSTIN ONYEDEBELU, CHAIRMAN, APC IMO STATE AND THE POLITICAL AGENDA BEHIND THE CAMPAIGN.

Gentlemen of the Press, Distinguished Stakeholders, Ladies and Gentlemen.

We have invited you here today because we can no longer remain silent over the sustained campaign of attacks against Chief Austin Onyedebelu, the Chairman of APC, Imo State.

We have followed with keen interest the recent publications and statements attributed to Hon. Onyeaka and his co-travellers, particularly the attempt to portray what is essentially a sustained campaign against Chief Austin Onyedebelu as merely a disagreement concerning community leadership.

We are here today to state categorically that this is not simply a community dispute.

It is an attack on Chief Austin Onyedebelu, his leadership and the political structure he represents and, in disguise, an attack on the administration and political leadership of His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State.

We are not deceived by the manner in which this campaign is being presented.

THIS IS AN ATTACK ON CHIEF AUSTIN, NOT A COMMUNITY DISPUTE.

If Hon. Onyeaka and those associated with him have genuine grievances concerning Ofekata III or any community matter, there are established channels through which such grievances can be addressed.

Nobody is saying that people should not disagree. Nobody is saying that community members should not demand accountability.

But there is a clear difference between raising a legitimate community concern and embarking on a sustained campaign designed to attack the person, character and leadership of the Chairman of the APC in Imo State.

What we are witnessing has gone beyond a normal community disagreement. 

The repeated publications, allegations and political insinuations are part of a pattern which, in our assessment, is designed to weaken Chief Austin Onyedebelu and undermine the political structure under his leadership.

That is why we are speaking today. We will not allow a political campaign to be disguised as a community dispute.

AN ATTACK ON THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RULING PARTY.

Let us remind everyone of one fundamental fact: Chief Austin Onyedebelu is the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Imo State. He is the leader of the ruling political party in the state.

Therefore, when you embark on a sustained campaign to discredit, embarrass and undermine the APC State Chairman, you cannot expect the people to completely separate that campaign from the political structure he leads.

This is why we consider the present campaign particularly disturbing, especially at a time when political activities are gradually intensifying and the state is moving towards another political season.

An attack on the pilot of the ruling party's political vehicle is not something that should be treated casually. It is an attack on the leadership structure of the party.

And, in disguise, it is an attack on the political structure and administration led by His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma. Those behind this campaign should understand this distinction.

THE POLITICAL TIMING IS VERY ILL-CONCEIVED.

We find the timing of this campaign particularly troubling. At a time when political activities are beginning to gather momentum, why embark on a sustained campaign against the Chairman of the ruling party?

Why continuously drag his name into issues that can ordinarily be resolved through established channels? Why attempt to create a negative public narrative around the person of the APC State Chairman These are questions that the people of Imo State deserve answers to.

We therefore consider this campaign very ill-conceived, particularly if the intention is to create political tension or weaken the existing political structure in the state. We will not sit back and allow political interests to hide behind community matters.

WE KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE BEHIND THIS CAMPAIGN.

We also want to make this very clear. We are not speaking based on rumours. We have evidence concerning individuals and interests involved in sponsoring, encouraging and facilitating this campaign against Chief Austin Onyedebelu. We have deliberately exercised restraint. We have deliberately refused to name names.

We have done so because we believe that peace and responsible engagement should always be given an opportunity. But let nobody mistake our restraint for ignorance.

We know what is happening.

We know that there are people behind this campaign. We know that some individuals are being used to advance an agenda that goes beyond the issues being presented to the public. And we have evidence.

We therefore want to send a very clear message to those sponsoring and encouraging this campaign:

STOP IT NOW.

Because if this campaign continues, we will be compelled to expose the evidence available to us and name the individuals and interests behind this unholy campaign. We will not make allegations without evidence.

But neither will we continue to remain silent when we have evidence that requires public explanation.

THE ATTACKS MUST NOT BE USED TO DESTABILISE IMO STATE.

Imo State has gone through difficult periods in the past. Today, everybody who genuinely loves this state should be interested in maintaining peace and stability.

Through the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma, the state has been pursuing an environment conducive to development, investment and political engagement.

We therefore find it unacceptable for individuals or political interests to deliberately engage in activities capable of creating unnecessary tension.

The Niger Delta youths living in Imo State are stakeholders. We have a legitimate interest in the peace and development of this state. We want development in our communities. We want employment opportunities for our young people. We want government programmes to reach the people.

We want our communities to remain peaceful. We do not want anyone to create problems that can threaten that peace for political reasons.

CHIEF AUSTIN'S CALMNESS MUST NOT BE MISTAKEN FOR WEAKNESS.

There is one issue we want to address directly. Chief Austin Onyedebelu is a calm, gentle and accommodating leader. He has demonstrated restraint throughout this matter. But those who have interpreted his calmness as weakness should *THINK AGAIN.*

Peaceful disposition is not weakness. Restraint is not helplessness. And choosing not to respond to every provocation does not mean that a person is unaware of what is happening.

Chief Austin knows what is happening. The APC leadership knows what is happening. And the Niger Delta stakeholders are also watching.

We have deliberately chosen the path of peace because we do not want this matter to escalate. But there is a limit to every restraint.

A MESSAGE TO ONYEAKA AND HIS CO-TRAVELLERS.

Our message to Hon. Onyeaka and his co-travellers is straightforward.

If you have a genuine grievance, present it through the appropriate channel. If you have evidence against Chief Austin Onyedebelu, present the evidence. If you disagree with any decision, state your case.

If you believe that any action is unlawful, seek appropriate legal remedy.

But do not use a community disagreement as a vehicle for a sustained political attack against the Chairman of the APC in Imo State.

And do not allow yourselves to be used as instruments in an agenda whose ultimate objective may be bigger than the issue you are presenting to the public.

A MESSAGE TO THOSE BEHIND THE SCENES.

To those who are sponsoring, financing, encouraging or facilitating this campaign from behind the scenes, our message is equally clear: We know that you are there. We know that there are interests behind this campaign. We have information. We have evidence.

And we have deliberately chosen not to expose everything at this stage. But if you continue, we will have no reason to continue shielding those behind the campaign. We will name names. We will present the evidence. And we will allow the people of Imo State to make their own assessment of the facts.

This is not a threat.

It is a statement of our intention to use lawful and legitimate means to expose what we believe is an organised campaign against the APC Chairman and the political structure he leads.

WE WILL NOT ALLOW THE NIGER DELTA TO BE USED AS A POLITICAL TOOL.

As Niger Delta stakeholders, we are particularly concerned when issues involving our communities are used for purposes that have nothing to do with the genuine welfare of our people.

The Niger Delta has legitimate concerns. Our communities need development. Our youths need opportunities. Our people need empowerment. Our environment needs protection. Our communities need government attention.

These are the issues that should occupy our attention—not manufactured political conflicts.

We will therefore resist any attempt to use the Niger Delta identity or community grievances as a vehicle for an unrelated political agenda.

OUR POSITION IS CLEAR

We therefore call on Hon. Onyeaka and all those participating in this campaign to immediately reconsider their actions. We call for an end to the sustained personal attacks against Chief Austin Onyedebelu.

We call on those with genuine grievances to use appropriate institutional and legal channels. We call on political actors to exercise restraint as the state enters another political season.

And we call on everyone involved to place the peace of Imo State above personal or political interests.

OUR FINAL WARNING.

Let us conclude by making our position absolutely clear.

Chief Austin Onyedebelu is the Chairman of the APC in Imo State.

An attack on him, his leadership and the political structure he represents cannot simply be dismissed as an ordinary community disagreement.

It is, in disguise, an attack on the political structure and administration led by His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

We know that there are individuals behind this campaign.

We have evidence. We have remained silent because we believe in peace.

But if this campaign does not stop, we will be forced to name names and present the evidence available to us through appropriate and lawful channels.

And to those who see the calm and gentle nature of Chief Austin Onyedebelu as weakness:

THINK AGAIN.

To those who believe the Niger Delta youths are unaware of what is happening:

We are watching.

To those who genuinely desire peace:

Let peace prevail.

But let nobody deliberately create a situation capable of breaching the peace of Imo State and expect the people to remain silent.

We remain committed to peaceful engagement, lawful action and the protection of the legitimate interests of our people.

Long live Imo State.

Long live the Niger Delta.

Signed:

NIGER DELTA YOUTH CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS,

Imo State.