Youth leaders under the auspices of Niger Delta Coalition for Peace and Progress (NDCPP) on Sunday congratulated Atiku Abubakar for winning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential primaries.

The group said that the successful hosting of the primaries in Port Harcourt was an indication that the region was peaceful under the leadership of PDP state governments.

They commended Gov Nyisom Nwike, Gov Ifeanyi Okowa who chaired the convention planning committee and Prince Uche Secondus, PDP National Chairman, for successfully hosting the convention NDCPP, however noted that Atiku owes the Niger Delta and former President Jonathan an apology for leaving PDP in the build up to the 2015 elections which denied the region a second term in the Presidency.

The youth group in a statement issued by its Spokesperson, Charles Kalada Dan-Jumbo, at the sidelines of the ongoing PDP Presidential Primaries noted that such apology was necessary even though the region had forgiven Atiku.

The youth group noted that exodus of Atiku and other PDP leaders to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was partly responsible for the loss of the 2015 presidential elections.

It said: “Suffice to say that the Niger Delta region has always played a pivotal role in the shaping of the character and content of the nation called Nigeria. The just concluded primaries adjudged the best so far was midwifed by Niger Delta people and hosted in the Niger Delta.

“This can be displayed in the key roles great sons and daughters of the region have played in the history of the country, but yet she’s the most abused, the most deprived, the most conned, and the most undermined.

“As youths of the Niger Delta we felicitate with the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike, for facilitating the hosting of such a historic event in the Niger Delta.

“Of course we cannot overemphasise the economic benefits of this occasion, but one thing is sure, and that is the fact that the decision to reclaim Nigeria in 2019 was made in Port Harcourt in the heart of Niger Delta region.

“Painfully, we all pretend like yesterday never existed, especially those of us who were key actors in disposing of the previous Govt.

“Today we must learn to apologise for our wrong deeds to rebuild trust else everything we present now is on a fallacious foundation.

“The coalition of Niger Delta youth leaders join forces to insist that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Atiku Abubarkar all render an apology to the Niger Delta region and former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for denying the region of a well-deserved second tenure.

“Their action was due to impatience and misconstrued perceptions, especially since that same government took us from a weak economy to the No 1 economy in Africa.

“Around 2014 and early 2015, Nigeria was named the third fastest growing economy in the world by CNNMoney, with China and Qatar, taking the lead at 7.3 percent, 7.1 percent gross domestic product growth.”

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