Cracks have emerged in the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide over the ongoing #OccupyNigerDelta protest, which began last Wednesday.
IYC President, Timothy Igbifa, and some national executives fell apart after two days of the protest in which the headquarters and state offices of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the region were shut down.
The East-West Road, the major expressway that links the Southsouth region to other parts of the country, was blocked; flow stations were shut down and economic activities paralysed.
On Friday, the deputy president and national spokesman of the IYC, Saviour Olali and Ebilade Ekerefe, said after consultations with stakeholders in the region, including the Ijaw National Congress, that the council had suspended the protest with immediate effect.
But the IYC President issued another directive over the weekend insisting that the protest would continue across the states in the region from today.
In another statement yesterday, Olali and Ekerefe warned against the resumption of the protest as directed by Igbifa.
They reiterated the council’s position on the suspension, saying they consulted with leaders and stakeholders from the region, especially from the parent body, the Ijaw National Congress (INC).
The statement reads in part: “The decision by the Ijaw elders is still in place and any action against the collective decision of the elders and youths is an affront and disobedience to the Ijaw nation.
“The Ijaw youths leadership re-echoes the position of the council having consulted with leaders from the region. Our decision is based on what has transpired within this period of the protest.
“There is the need for us to go back, call for a convention for us to review plans, strategy and take proper decision.
“Ijaw youths are warned to discountenance the statement attributed to the President, IYC, Peter Timothy Igbifa, in defiance to the collective decision of the Ijaw elders and youths that the ongoing #OccupyNigerDelta protest will continue on Monday across the states in the region.”
Also yesterday, the Eastern Zone of the IYC said it has suspended Igbifa.
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It passed a vote of no confidence in him and announced the appointment of Israel Fubara as the acting National President pending the resolution of issues that led to the purported suspension.
Zonal chairman Tamunotonye Kpokpo, at a briefing in Port Harcourt at the weekend, dissociated himself and IYC from Igbifa and his activities.
He warned cooperate bodies and organisations against dealings with Igbifa until the investigation on issues surrounding his suspension is concluded.
Kpokpo faulted Igbifa’s claim that he was kidnapped.
“There’s already so much conflict between the executive and the president, and this unclear rumoured kidnap of the president.
“To this end, we have come up with a resolution, and have also passed a ‘vote of no confidence in our former President Peter Igbifa.
“IYC disassociates self from the rumoured kidnap. Ijaw Youth Council works in collaboration with the security agencies. We fight on sea, land and in the forests for the release of kidnapped victims from captivity.
“Therefore, under our watch, it is impossible for an unknown gunman to abduct a serving President of IYC.
“Based on this, the congress has unanimously agreed that Comrade Igbifa remained suspended until further notice,” he added.
Kpokpo said a committee was set up to probe Igbifa’s activities, adding that the next officer in rank shall act as the national president during the period.
“I have been briefed by the national secretariat, and based on our constitution’s provision, Comrade Fubara shall act as our national President pending conclusion on the investigation,” he said.
Igbifa said that the ongoing #OccupyNigerDelta protest would continue today.
In a statement he issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday, he released the timetable for a fresh election to produce his successor, asking persons interested in his job to prepare for the next poll.
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