The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has said Niger Delta people will only support a presidential candidate with the sincerity of purpose for true federalism.
Spokesman Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe made this known yesterday in an interview in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
He said the council has taken a look at the transitional journey of the nation towards this year’s presidential election and reaffirmed the call on the people of the region to back a presidential candidate that supports true federalism, justice and equity for all regions.
Ekerefe said: “We particularly call for peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general election and we are ready to work with the security agencies to thwart any plan by anti-democratic agents, non-state actors, proxies or hired hands of any candidate plotting to disrupt peace in the region.
“The IYC, in line with its tenets, will continue to promote constructive agitations to attract the attention of the authorities at the state governments, the Federal Government and the multinational oil companies towards the development of our region.
“Our quests are particularly in the areas of job creation for the teeming unemployed youths and addressing the effects of climate change, which is causing serious devastation to our environment as well as impeding our livelihoods.
“We frown at the Federal Government lackadaisical attitude towards addressing the effects of the devastating flood in the Niger Delta, especially Bayelsa State that is adjudged to be the worst hit.
“We expect serious interventions from the Federal Government to help the affected states of the region to fix roads washed away, provide grants and soft loans to farmers to start all over again and give medical support to aggressively fight cholera and other communicable diseases.”
On pipeline surveillance contract and its impact on the nation oil revenue, he reiterated that the bold decision taken by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd to award pipeline surveillance jobs to indigenous companies, particularly Tantita Security Ltd owned by Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, was already yielding desired results.
He noted: “With reports and improving oil output data available, IYC wants to urge the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, plough back some of the proceeds to the development of the region.”
“While we urge the crude oil pipeline contractors to remain focused and continue assisting the Nigerian nation to improve the proceeds from the oil revenue, we demand that the East-West Road be completed in 2023 and the Federal Government projects in the region, which are yet to be completed, be given the deserved attention.”