Group Dissociates Self From Natasha’s Visit, Says ‘We’re Apolitical’

A sociocultural group, Ebira Youth Congress (EYC), has disassociated itself from the homecoming of suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to her Country home in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

EYC in a statement signed by its president, Comrade Ahmed Bachido on Thursday in Lokoja said that the association was trying to unearth the identity of mischief makers that printed a banner in its name.

“Our attention has been drawn to a printed banner with the inscription: ‘The Youth of Kogi Central Are Proud of You, We are Solidly Behind You.’ Whilst we are seriously trying to unearth the identity of those mischief makers who printed the banner in our name, EYC takes serious exception to this glaring and flagrant impersonation.

“We condemned in strong terms, the sinister motive of those impostors for misrepresenting EYC as a political support organisation. While we described them as charlatans who are hell-bent to tarnish the image of this umbrella youth body of Ebira people,” the statement said.

It further demanded a retraction from the individuals, vowing to “confront them with their falsehood. EYC was founded as an apolitical organisation and its primary assignment is conceived to frontally defend and promote the interests of our fatherland.

“To put the record straight, EYC has ever remained apolitical organisation since its creation, and we dissociate ourselves from the activity of those impersonators for impugning the integrity of this esteemed socio-cultural organisation by affiliating its leadership to a political gathering particularly, the homecoming of Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan without our prior knowledge.”

EYC maintained that such political outing associated with its leadership abhors the very essence of its creation, describing is as an attempts by some mischief makers to rubbish the image of its present leadership before the general public.

“As the umbrella youth organisation of Ebira people both at home and in diaspora, we usually remain apolitical in any political contest that concerns the sons and daughters of Ebiraland whilst upholding its basic programmes which are anchored on community activism, strong advocacy for societal development and peaceful coexistence,” the statement said.

It stressed that the EYC has remained, and it will continue to remain as a unified organisation that is poised with undiluted commitment to strengthening the bonds and deepening cooperation of Ezianebira regardless of political persuasions and religious creeds.

“This is the original philosophy which underpinned its creation for nearly a quarter of a century,” Bachido said.