Pro-Amaechi Youth Mobilise in Vain

More than five thousand youth loyal to the Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, gathered at the Port Harcourt international airport spoiling for a fight, but left disappointed.

It will be recalled that on Tuesday, youth loyal to the minister of state for education, Nyesom Wike, known as the Grassroots Development Initiative, harassed four visiting governors from northern Nigeria who were in Port Harcourt on a solidarity visit to the governor.

Even though Governor Amaechi’s loyalists, the Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) were present at the airport, they were outnumbered at least two to one and could not stop the larger mob from perpetuating their violent act on the visitors.

On Thursday, with South West Governors expected, more than five thousand pro-Amaechi youth, under the aegis of the IYM, stormed the Port Harcourt International Airport to “protect” their visitors.

One of the youth told Nigerian Telegraph that they were caught unawares on Tuesday and would not want to see their brother (Amaechi) embarrassed again.

“A few of us were here on Tuesday and we saw what happened and were too powerless to act. That is why we have come in this large number to protect our visitors from anyone that may want to do them harm,” he said.

However, possibly to avoid another confrontation, the governors did not land at the international airport but at the more secure AirForce base.

The youth from Ikwerre Youth Movement were led by Emma Chinda, the state commissioner for Agriculture, as well as Welendu Amadi, the council chairman for Ikwerre Local Government Area.

Other IYM leaders from Obio Akpor, Ikwerre and Etche Local Government Area were also present at the airport.