The aggrieved Ijaw youths, who began the protest about 8 am, alleged the persecution of former President Goodluck Jonathan and members of his family.
The protesters, monitored by security operatives, also alleged that the Muhammadu Buhari administration had not been funding the interventionist agencies and projects in the Niger Delta.
As a result of the protest, business and commercial activities were disrupted for hours in the metropolis.
Passengers and commuters were stranded as many were seen trekking some kilometres to get to their workplaces and other destinations.
Most members of the group were seen chanting protest songs with placards bearing inscriptions such as, ‘Stop harassing Jonathan’s family’, ‘Leave Patience Jonathan alone’, ‘If you must probe Dame Patience Jonathan, all the former First Ladies must be probed’, and ‘We need projects in Niger Delta, not soldiers.’
Other inscriptions were, ‘LNG must be bought by Bonny people’, ‘We are Ijaw youths, not criminals’, ‘EFCC, return Alamco’s property, don’t be biased’, ‘Unfreeze Jonathan’s accounts’, among others.
Addressing co-protesters in front of Ijaw House, the headquarters of IYC, the President, IYC, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, said the protest was to send a message to the Federal Government about the attitude of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission towards the former first family.
He said, “We want to ask Buhari to please focus on governance and stop vilifying the former first family. The economy has gone so bad because of the attitude of the EFCC when it concerns the Niger Delta people.
“Our appeal is that Buhari should please respect Jonathan just as he respects the other former presidents. They have frozen his accounts, they are not paying his allowances, even the security agents around him do not get what is due them. We have yet to know why Buhari is victimising Jonathan and his family members.
“When you talk about the aggression towards Dame Patience Jonathan, she is not the first First Lady. She is wife to former deputy governor, governor, Vice-President and President. Are you expecting her to be a poor woman?
The IYC president called for the restructuring of Nigeria, insisting that if the country was restructured, all their agitations would naturally end.
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