A former President, Ijaw Youths Council Worldwide, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, has called on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to jettison his presidential ambition.

Eradiri in a statement he signed on Tuesday told Atiku that his serial failed bids to occupy Aso Rock Villa had done untold damage to the development of the Niger Delta and destroyed the reputation of some of the respected leaders from the region.

Besides, Eradiri, who is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) argued that Atiku's insensitive and desperate ambition to become President was threatening the peace of the country.

Explaining how Atiku's Presidential ambition had negatively impacted Niger Delta, he recalled that the late former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was humiliated, suffered and died because of his relationship with Atiku.

Eradiri, a former Commissioner for Youths and later Environment in Bayelsa also noted that a former Delta State Governor, Chief Onanefe Ibori 's political alliance with Atiku was part of the reason he was thrown into jail.

He said Atiku was part of those, who teleguided the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara; gave him deceptive assurances that worsened his ordeal.

Eradiri recalled that at the build-up to the 2023 election, Atiku's inordinate ambition and his desperation plunged Delta State into huge debts using former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to bankroll his campaigns in exchange for Vice-presidential ticket.

He observed that Atiku's ambition destroyed the PDP and attempted to destabilise the country by ignoring the zoning arrangement of the presidency between the north and the south.

Eradiri said Atiku demonstrated the highest level of desperation, unreasonableness and lack of patriotism in 2023 when he cornered the Presidential ticket of the PDP to retain power in the North despite former President Muhammadu Buhari eight years in office.

Eradiri said: "I want to call on Alhaji Abubakar to demonstrate statesmanship by jettisoned his ambition to be President of Nigeria. This call is not political. It is borne out of unbiased assessment of the damage his ambition has caused the people of the Niger Delta.

The late former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha suffered and died because of his association with Atiku. Former Delta State Governor, Chief Onanefe Ibori went to jail because of his association with Atiku.

"Delta State is indebted financially because of Okowa's association with Atiku's ambition. Sim Fubara of Rivers State was deceived by assurances from Atiku and his men. The Nigerian political space in recent time has suffered untold damage because of Atiku.

"A period that should be the turn of the South after the North had done two terms, but you can see that Atiku is still insisting on becoming the President and today opposition has been alienated because of Atiku.

"The PDP is in tatters today because of Atiku. Therefore, it is clear that Atiku's ambition is bringing untold hardship especially for us in the Niger Delta. It is creating the problem that is destabilising the Nigerian polity.

"Every society needs a virile opposition for the ruling party to sit up. But Atiku's ambition has dealt a deadly blow on PDP, which many people relied upon to provide this opposition.?

Eradiri further told Atiku that the country would be more peaceful and the rising tension will also be toned down if he supports the South to complete their tenure.

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