The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, has congratulated former Minister of the Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on his emergence as the Senate President of Nigeria.
The IYC described the development as commendable and apt, noting that Akpabio is a round peg in a round hole.
The Ijaw youths body in a statement by its National Spokesman, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, said the emergence of Akpabio as the number three citizen of the nation is a good omen to the people of the Southsouth geopolitical zone and the Niger Delta region in general.
He opined that entrusting the Senate Presidency to a son of the Southsouth had reaffirmed the people’s belief in Nigeria in line with the doctrines of equity, justice and fairness.
Ekerefe, who also described Akpabio as a progressive Niger Delta indigene with uncommon penchant for hard work and loyalty, advised that he use his good offices to better the lots of the people of the region in the areas of infrastructural development, human capacity building and youths’ empowerment.
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Ekerefe noted that despite the past encounters with Senator Akpabio as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, he is a man truly favoured by God, considering all the previous positions he had occupied from Governor, Senator, Minister and now the Senate President.
The spokesman said: “The youths of the Niger Delta are elated by his elevation to the position of the Senate President. We believe that he should be able to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resolve some age-long contentious issues facing the region through proper legislation and the political will.
“We want to urge him to ensure the speedy completion of the East-West road, the Ogoni land clean-up and those of other Niger Delta communities that have suffered various degrees of environmental degradation.
“We also demand an improved budget for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), working with stakeholders to combat oil theft and the completion of Federal Government projects that have been abandoned by successive administrations.”