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Tag: Ijaw nation

  • Book on Ijaw nation struggle for unveiling

    Book on Ijaw nation struggle for unveiling

    A book ‘The vain Ijaw struggle’ highlighting the challenges and quest for the development of the Ijaw nation and pursuit of economic and political growth of the Niger Delta region is set for launch.

    The formal launch and symposium is scheduled foe Rococo Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

    Written by a one-time president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Engineer Elvis Donkemezuo, the book discusses the intricate details of the struggles of the Ijaw people within the context of a search for social, political, and economic emancipation.

    The book also draws inference from historical events dating back to the Kaiama Declaration, and buttresses the author’s avowed and strongly held opinion on the pathway to restoring and reviving the ambition of a better and progressive Ijaw nation within Nigeria.

    The gathering aims to attract leading historians, scholars, politicians, and interested individuals keen on exploring the nuances of Ijaw nationalism.

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    The event will be chaired by Chief Samuel Ogbuku, PhD, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Mother of the Day will be the wife of former pryesident Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan. Chief Host of the event is Chief Raymond Dokpesi Jr., the Chairman of Daar Communications while King Mozi Agara who is the Igbediaowei of Kolokuma will be the royal father of the day.

    Donkemezuo said the book set out to appraise some of the impending issues that are contributing to the underdevelopment of the Ijaw nation.

    The book highlights how the struggle for Ijaw ethnic emancipation started, the direction of where it was supposed to be headed, and the inability of the frontline activists to coordinate the agenda toward enabling both economic and political emancipation for the people hence the seemingly stunted progress

    The official launch of this book will afford historians, academicians, and the general public a rare chance to have an encounter with and a complete overview of the Ijaw nationalist vision and the author’s overarching idea for a stronger, united, and prosperous Ijaw nation.

  • ‘Ijaw nation willing to work with Dokubo’

    The Presidential Amnesty Programme has dismissed as mischievous and self-serving, a post on the social media by factional President of the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC); Mr. Oweilaemi Pereotubo, claiming that the Ijaw nation had passed a vote of no confidence on the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo.

    On the contrary, the Presidential Amnesty Office said highly respected and influential leaders of the Ijaw nation have expressed willingness to assist Dokubo in refocusing the amnesty programme to its original mandate for the sustenance of peace and development of the Niger Delta region.

    Mr. Murphy Ganagana, Special Assistant (Media) to Prof. Dokubo, said in a statement at the weekend that the IYC factional president’s comments on a social media platform made a few hours after an appeal for a meeting of the amnesty programme boss with a select group of Niger Delta stakeholders to be rescheduled for a later date, was tempestuous, malicious, mischievous.

    He noted that Prof. Dokubo is deeply rooted in the pains, challenges and aspirations of the Niger Delta people and committed to rewriting the sad narrative of the region.

    He said in the statement that “In his quest to ensure that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is moved to the Next Level in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s mandate, Prof. Charles Dokubo has held several consultative meetings with leaders of ex-Niger Delta agitators, beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme and other critical stakeholders.”

    He added that in one such meeting, some “top flight Niger Delta stakeholders made remarks which was capped by a highly respected leader, Elder T. K Ogoriba, who expressed the desire and willingness of critical stakeholders to assist Dokubo in moving the amnesty programme forward.”

    The Presidential Amnesty Programme therefore urged “the factional IYC president to channel his youthful energy towards building bridges of unity, progress and development among the youths of the great Ijaw nation, not in engaging in dangerous antics that will provoke and incite the youths against the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

  • Pro-Dokubo protest hit Rivers

    A coalition of ex-agitators from the Kalabari extraction of Ijaw nation in Niger Delta have marched on the streets of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to support the Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Prof. Charles Dokubo.

    The protesters, over 100, moved from the Port Harcourt Polo club to the Amnesty liaison office in GRA, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore calls to sack Dokubo.

    The Kalabari youths described Dokubo as a professional, caring and listening father, who has changed the face of the Amnesty Office and youths, leading to peace in the region. According to them, those calling for his removal are faceless and think no good for the region.

    The protesting groups were – Kalabari Indigenous Movement; Niger Delta Ex-agitators Forum; Niger Delta Ex-agitators Forum for Good Governance; Niger Delta Advocates of Peace; Progressive Youths Movement of Niger Delta and Concerned Aggrieved Youths of Niger Delta.

    The aggrieved youths carried placards and banners and chanted pro-Dokubo songs.

    Some of the placards read: “Dokubo is doing well, leave him alone”; “Bayelsa, Kalabari are Ijaw”; ” Don’t Destroy Ijaw Unity”; “President Buhari we love you, do not pay attention to the enemies of Niger Delta”; ” Enough is Enough”; “Amnesty is not only for Bayelsa”; “Stop the pull him down syndrome”.

    Leader of the march Sepiribo Douglas appealed to President Buhari to ignore the insinuations of “disgruntled politicians” plotting Dokubo’s removal.

    According to him, Dokubo does not deserve to be sacked, but praises for his ingenuity in running the Amnesty Office.

    He said: “We are happy that our son has all it takes to occupy the position. He is an astute Professor, a think-tank, visionary and a pragmatist. Since he became the Special Adviser, he has promptly and regularly paid ex-agitators, and also brought out a laudable blue print to transform the lives of ex-agitators and the rural communities.

    “We are not unaware of protests in Bayelsa State by faceless sponsors who are power hungry, and we are yet to come to terms as to why a fellow Ijaw person(s) will be plotting to remove their own. We ask if Kalabari is not Ijaw.”

    Douglas appealed to Ijaw elders and leaders to caution those scheming to remove Prof. Dokubo for the sake of the unity of Ijaw nation.

    Manger of the Rivers State Liaison office of PAP Alabo Jack promised to take their message to Dokubo in Abuja.

    Jack, who was represented by the Head, Administrative Matters, Mr. Diepreye Robert, appealed to the protesters to remain peaceful and law abiding. He pledged to get to the root of the vandalism and looting of the Amnesty office in Bayelsa State.

  • ‘Bayelsa youths should be good ambassadors of Ijaw nation’

    A former governorship aspirant in the 2015 in Bayesla State, Mr Reuben Okoya has enjoined youths in the state to be respectful, honest, diligent and aspire to be good ambassadors of  the Ijaw nation.

    He said that the youths should always show respect and welcome visitors into the state so that they don’t have a bad perception of their environment.

    Okoya who spoke in Yenagoa,  the state capital, advised the youths to open up the visual perception of the region to foreigners, who plan to come to the state for tourism, culture and traditions.

    ‘’We should show the best of ourselves so that the best of ijaw culture is projected to the outside world,’’ he said, adding that he had to attend the festival, which took place at Obogoro community in Yenagoa  Local Government Area as a demonstration of brotherliness and oneness to  the people.

    “ Our  culture depicts who we are- our ways of life, language, food, dressings and beliefs. We are in a season of celebration, a season to come together and promote unity, love and gratitude to God for s good harvest. As a member of the Bayelsa family, I cannot sit at home while Atissa people, who are my people are celebrating the good fortunes of God and in the spirit of brotherhood and unity, I love to and have to be seen in most of these occasions as I identify with our people”.

  • Testy times for the Jerusalem of the Ijaw Nation

    Bayelsa State is unique in many aspects. It has the least population when compared to other states in the country. It perhaps has the least land mass. Topographically the state of former President Goodluck Jonathan is always said to be 70 per cent water and 30 per cent land.

    Fondly called the Jerusalem of the Ijaw Nation for being the only Ijaw homogeneous state, Bayelsa is rich in maritime assets. It is opened to the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by rivulets, rivers, lakes and other water channels. The state ranks among the richest in petroleum resources. But among its contemporaries, Bayelsa is arguably the least developed.

    Now, Bayelsa is under trial. It is marching to another landmark of political transition to choose a fresh vehicle that will drive its development. The two dominant and big political vehicles begging for boarding in the state are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC). Other smaller vehicles such as the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Labour Party (LP), also exist.

    Expectedly, PDP and the APC are at each other’s throat battling in a game of intrigues and wits to seek the patronage of the state. PDP has been the vehicle of choice for Bayelsa since 1999.

    Hitherto, Bayelsa never engaged in a competitive process to select its vehicle and driver. Election was alien. Selection and coronation were the order of the day. It was taken for granted that whoever emerged a candidate from the PDP would drive the vehicle of the state with little or no input from Bayelsa.

    So, it was for the past “drivers” of the state such as Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Timipre Sylva and the incumbent driver, Chief Seriake Dickson.

    But the PDP is no longer the same. It has been given a bloody nose by the punches of the APC. Suddenly, the APC has become the vehicle of choice for many people in the state, especially the politicians. Persons who hitherto constituted the backbone and pillars of the PDP are leaving in droves to join the APC vehicle. In fact, the creme la de creme and their followers have already declared for the APC. Even the state Chairman of the PDP, Col. Sam Inokoba (retd) left his job to be counted in the APC.

    Some of the heavyweights who deserted the PDP are Timi Alaibe, Dikivie Ikiogha, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Nestor Binabo, Werinipre Seibarugu, Warman Ogoriba, Alex Ekiotene, Senator Brambaifa, Dr. Stella Dorgu; in fact, the list is endless. Most of them were former elected and appointed political office holders. Some of them even abandon the cabinet of Dickson to hop into the vehicle of APC.

    Therefore, as the vehicle of APC is filling up to a congesting point ahead of the December contest, that of the PDP is looking empty.

    The PDP is divided over the reelection ambition of Dickson. An anti-Dickson group, the PDP Unity Group (PUG) comprising mainly former aides sacked in controversial circumstances and other aggrieved party leaders, have vowed to scuttle the governor’s ambition.

    Therefore, in PDP some persons are desirous of collecting the party’s ticket from Dickson. Prominent among persons trying to wrest PDP’s ticket from the governor are Senator Emmanuel Paulker and Reuben Okoya.

    There is a belief that the process of selecting the driver of the APC vehicle will generate controversies likely to destroy the party. Most of the bigwigs are aspiring to be at the driver’s seat and unless they bury their ambitions, the dream of the APC to displace the PDP will be a mirage.

    Almost all the heavyweights in the APC want the party’s governorship ticket. Former Governor Timipre Sylva, Alaibe, Ikiogha, Ogoriba, Godnows Powell, Ebitimi Amgbare, Inokoba and many others are struggling to get the party’s ticket. Already over seven aspirants have picked the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms valued at N6.5million. However, some names like Alaibe, Ikiogha and Ogoriba in the governorship race of APC have continued to generate fears and tension in the PDP.

    With the incumbency factor of Dickson who is believed in some quarters to have done well, everybody is waiting to see the kind of candidate that will emerge from the APC. They are waiting to see a popular, credible, political heavyweight, a household name considering the timeline of the election. Bayelsa will then decide its vehicle and driver.

     

     

     

  • Stakeholders discuss new vision for Ijaw nation

    Stakeholders discuss new vision for Ijaw nation

    Worried by several problems including environmental degradation, health hazards and perennial pollution confronting Ijaw ethnic nationality, stakeholders under the aegis of Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA) last weekend organised a seminar at the Banquet Hall of the Bayelsa State Government House, Yenagoa, to fashion a new vision for the Ijaw nation.

    At the seminar with the theme: Translating the Ijaw Vision into Reality: The Leadership Challenge’, participants deliberated on the possible alternative means of diversifying the economy of the region from over dependency on oil revenue.

    The Secretary-General of IPA, Mr Efiye Bribena, explained that the aim of the seminar was to promote professional excellence among Ijaw people. He said the seminar was a follow up to the one earlier held in May, 2015 at Eko Hotel and Suites, which attracted eminent personalities like the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe.

    The President of the association and Executive Secretary, Nigeria Contents Development & Monitoring Board, Arc. Denzil Amagbe Kentebe, flayed the neglect and marginalization of the region by the successive governments but urged the people to take their destiny into their own hands and avoid unnecessary lamentation.

    He said: “We need to go beyond the usual complaints, protests and lamentations. We should objectively discuss a new Vision 2025 for Ijawland.”

    The chairman of the event, Chief Doukpolagha, commended IPA for its commitment to the course of the Ijaw people. He urged the participants to embark on intensive search for good leadership and new economic agenda for Ijaw nation.

    His words: “Hard work is a necessary prerequisite for leadership. Leaders in Abuja should be our ambassadors. To this end, they are to fight for opportunities for the Ijaw man. It is important to look inwards when the question of leadership is raised. It has also become imperative for the people to key into critical areas of oil production to fulfill the destiny of the Ijaw nation as an active player in the Nigerian project.”

    The guest speaker, Dr Tom-George, in his presentation entitled: “Rethinking Leadership and Development in the Niger Delta,” challenged Ijaw leaders to harness available human and material resources for the common good of the people.

    He said: “A leader is as happy as the least happy person. In sum, a leader should ensure service delivery to the people through self-sacrifice and leadership. A leader must galvanise the best genius of our people; be community minded and be surrounded with people of peculiar interest. An example is John Kennedy who made his brother, Robert Kennedy the Attorney-General when he was President of the United States of America.”

    George said the need for capacity building for the youths saying: “There is a dominant negative trend among the Ijaws, which is the wrong notion of thinking that the Ijaw man is defined by the natural resources in his environment. The Ijaws are more than oil and gas and should therefore focus on capacity building. The greatest resource is the human intellect. It is paramount to build the human knowledge economy and invest in the human capital development of the Ijaw man,” he added.

    In a communiqué issued at the end of an interactive session, IPA emphasized the urgent need for an effective and futuristic Ijaw Vision.

    The statement reads in part: “The Ijaw nation should develop vision 2025 aimed at building a united, inclusive, prosperous, peaceful and influential nation within the Nigerian and global context; Ijaw vision 2025 should be actionable and serve as a blueprint for all sections of the Ijaw nation to build a united and prosperous entity based on shared values and a common destiny; the vision should be dynamic, acceptable to the majority and adaptable to current realities; It should also incorporate the basic core values.”

    Stakeholders at the seminar included the Chairman, IPA Board of Trustees, Gen. Paul Alaowei Toun (rtd), Dr. Chris Ekiyor,  Chief Boma Obuoforibo, Chief (Mrs) Veronica Bamuza-Mutu and Charles Ambaowei.

    Others were: Chief Francis Doukpola, former traditional ruler of Agbere community, Lady Anne, Secretary of the Elders Council of Bayelsa State, Lady Meg Agidi, a member of the Ijaw National Congress, Moses Siasia, a member of the Nigerian Young Professionals), Engr Ambaowei, Acting President of the Ijaw National Congress, and Iniruo Wills, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Environment.