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Tag: Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide

  • Warri delineation: IYC asks INEC to obey Supreme Court judgement

    Warri delineation: IYC asks INEC to obey Supreme Court judgement

    The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to align its actions with judicial directives and provide clear, consistent communication to prevent further confusion and unrest among constituents in Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State.

    The group noted that the situation emphasises the importance of accountability in electoral processes and the necessity of adhering to legal frameworks established by higher courts.

    The national spokesman of IYC, Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill, noted in a statement on Tuesday, that there is a notable discord between statements issued by INEC officials, with reports of the delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency being both suspended and not suspended.

    He said this inconsistency raises questions about the internal communication and hierarchy within the INEC.

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    The IYC spokesman expressed concern over the apparent lack of clarity in INEC’s policies and the potential for public misinformation.

    He recalled that a landmark ruling on December 2, 2022, declared the current delineation in Warri Federal Constituency as fraudulent and ineffective, mandating a comprehensive re-delineation by INEC. The IYC posed a critical question regarding the legality and appropriateness of INEC’s continuous voter registration in an area where the Supreme Court had deemed the electoral wards and units non-existent.

    Princewill said, given the tension arising from INEC’s inconsistent handling of the re-delineation and voter registration process, the IYC is advocating for clarity in communication from INEC and adherence to the Supreme Court’s ruling.

    He argued that until INEC implements its field report regarding the re-delineation in Warri Federal Constituency, it lacks the authority to conduct any voter registration in that area.

    Princewill asserted, “Let it be known that the delay tactics employed by INEC in implementing its draft report won’t work, as it must not take the commission an eternity to put things together in Warri Federal Constituency. The Ijaw Youth Council will surely resist it with every fibre of its being.

    “INEC’s intentional delay and extension of the continuous voter registration exercise to Warri Federal Constituency is nothing short of contempt of court and an affront to the Nigerian judiciary in particular. If the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot fix an issue with a legal backing in just one federal constituency in Nigeria, what then will be the hope of Nigerians putting their trust in a credible election in Nigeria by the same INEC?

    “While we have continued to preach peace and the unity of Nigeria, the relevant authorities must be seen doing the right thing by not throwing this lovely and peaceful nation into another form of unrest on account of this.”

  • IYC, others urge Fed Govt to reverse emergency rule in Rivers

    IYC, others urge Fed Govt to reverse emergency rule in Rivers

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has expressed deep concern over the recent declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State by the Federal Government.

    This decision, which received approval from both the Federal House of Representatives and the Nigerian Senate, has resulted in the suspension of Governor Siminalaye Fubara, his deputy, and the entire Rivers State House of Assembly for a duration of six months.

    In a statement issued at the weekend by the national spokesman, IYC, Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill, the Council characterised the declaration as one of the darkest periods in Nigeria’s democratic history.

    Princewill lamented that, despite ongoing efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, the federal government had transformed Nigeria’s democracy into an international embarrassment.

    He also expressed disappointment in the National Assembly, criticizing its failure to fulfill its constitutional mandate of checks and balances.

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    This approval, according to the IYC spokesman, had severely compromised the foundations of Nigerian democracy, leaving it in a precarious and unstable state.

    Princewill warned that this unprecedented action might set a dangerous precedent, allowing the federal government to suspend other state governments and potentially the National Assembly itself when faced with opposing views.

    He viewed it as a blatant act of state-sponsored oppression, undermining the principles of democratic governance.

    In light of this troubling situation, the IYC commended those senators and House members who opposed the declaration.

  • IYC urges security agencies to arrest council’s impostors

    IYC urges security agencies to arrest council’s impostors

    The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has written to the security agencies demanding arrest of some impostors that have allegedly infiltrated the leadership of the Council.

    The IYC, in a statement yesterday by its national spokesman, Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill, said its attention had been drawn to a video circulating on the social media credited to one Bedford Berefa, claiming to be speaking on behalf of the Council while expressing concerns about the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) led by Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.

    He said that the Council, worried by the development, convened a meeting of the 9th leadership of the IYC that met in Port Harcourt with zonal, chapter, parliament and critical stakeholders of the council to take a stance on the impostors.

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    According to the spokesman, the IYC has been peaceful and it is using this medium to call on security agencies to arrest the elements that are impersonating the 9th NEC of Council.

    The communiqué released after the meeting resolved thus: “For the records, there is only one leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide which is under the firm and purposeful leadership of Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr.

    “The IYC is aware that these group of Impostors tried to secure invitation to be part of the Niger Delta  Stakeholders summit proposed by  Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as the 9th leadership of the IYC Worldwide but the commission did the right thing by turning them down, letting them know that there is only one IYC under the leadership of Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr. “Obviously angered by such development, they took to the social media to get attention by trying to blackmail the NDDC under Ogbuku.

    “With the dismissal of the interlocutory injunction on July 2nd, 2024 by the Rivers State High Court in  Port Harcourt against Theophilus Alaye, Bedford Berefa,  Chief Frank Akiefa and  others in favour of the Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr led Exco, one would have expected these persons to give up with their retrogressive activities. But instead they have continued with their selfish arrangements of blackmailing our highly respected leader, Dr. Sam Ogbuku, who is passionate about the development of the Niger Delta region.

  • Mixed feelings trail proposal for state police

    Mixed feelings trail proposal for state police

    Ijaw leaders, lawyers and other stakeholders, Friday, expressed mixed feelings over the possibility of establishing state police to tackle crime waves in the country.

    A former President of the Ijaw National Council (INC), Prof. Kimse Okoko, said without factoring other ingredients of restructuring, establishing a state police would be an exercise in futility.

    Okoko, the immediate past Pro-Chancellor, University of Uyo, insisted that the country was in need of a brand new constitution to accommodate all requirements for true federalism including the state police.

    He said: “State police alone without changing the constitution is a waste of time. We cannot do it in piece meal. If we restructure, every state will has its own police side by side with the federal police as we have in other countries.

    “We have the Federal police in the U.S. and the state police. They all have their own jurisdiction.  The state police can ask for assistance from the federal and invite them. They can come only on invitation.

    “The constitution needs to be re-written. We need to have a new constitution where some of other aspects affiliated with the state will also be taken care of. Amending one part of it as the National Assembly is trying to do is not going solve the problem”.

    Also the immediate past President, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, said though the state police have their advantages, they should be part of the general clamour for restructuring.

    Eradiri said: “In a true federal system, state police is one of the ingredients. Much as you cannot rule out politics, state police has its advantages. The state government can use the state police against perceived opposition. We have seen that the federal one is not working as it should be, I think it is time to try something different.

    “But taking out the state police as one ingredients of federalism will not make it a success except other aspects of federalism that have been canvassed are also put into considerations. So, that when you are talking about state police, other issues of devolving power to the state and local government will also be put in place.

    “Once all the machinery begin to play where the people begin to take ownership of the political situation in their environment, then the issue of checks and balances and control will begin to be paramount.

    “Once there is effective checks and balances in the system, it will be difficult to abuse the state police. But within this system we are operating and arising from the conflicts we are experiencing, picking only the state police will not yield the desired fruit”.

    In his submission, a prominent Yengoa-based lawyer, Mr. Somina Johnbull, said the country could borrow a lead from other developed countries such as South Africa, USA and Britain to effectively implement state and community policing.

    “It is laudable that finally someone from the federal government has acknowledged state police to solve the incessant security problems that we have. We cannot do without state and community policing.

    “Contrary to the requirement of one policeman to 400, our is a way beyond that and the complexities of our local environment make it necessary that the task of policing must be shared by all divisions of government.

    “However, the fear of abuse will have to be addressed. How can this be addressed? It is by borrowing from the model of South Africa and other institutions like America and Britain where the issue of security has independence”, he said.

    He said such independence must be in words and in deed adding that it should include financial autonomy.

    To avoid conflict between the federal and the state police, he said there must be proper delineation of jurisdictions.

    Johnbull, who is also the Secretary, Bayelsa State branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) said: “The independence of the state police is not just in name but also in deed. It works in financial independence and they are required only to obey the law as it is not under the direction of any political figure.

    “The truth is that those opposed to state police are afraid that the state governors may bring their weight to bear and it might also lead to regular confrontation between federal police and the state police.

    “First, there will be proper delineation of what state police can do areas they can enter and matters they have jurisdiction over. In the US, crimes in federal buildings are off limit for state police. There need to be proper delineation to minimise conflict.

    “Just as in the judiciary, where you have federal and state courts, however, there is a central control authority which can regulate and make everybody fall in line. There should be similar authority that can regulate the activities of state police. They shouldn’t be solely loyal to their states; there should be some measure of control in a way that it should not be abused”.

    Another famous lawyer and former Bayelsa State Chairman, NBA, Mr. Stanley Damabide, said the Federal Government must grapple with the task of amending the constitution before it could enthrone state policing.

    “The first issue is the constitutional framework. Unless the constitution is amended we can’t have state police. The implication then is that the federal government cannot go it alone. It has to collaborate with all the state before it can effectively ensure the constitution is amended.

    “It can work. More than two third of the state’s and their state executives will want state police. It gives them more powers. But we must brace up to meet possible abuses and see what we can do about them because he who pays the piper dictates the tune”.

  • N’Delta: youths knock Ijaw elders for withdrawing ultimatum

    N’Delta: youths knock Ijaw elders for withdrawing ultimatum

    …Warn militants against resumption of hostilities

     

    Ijaw youths, Saturday, faulted their elders and members of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) for their decision to withdraw an ultimatum they earlier have to the Federal Government to resume dialogue with them.

    The youths under the auspices of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide also warned militants groups against resuming hostilities in the region.

    The Eric Omare-led IYC, in a statement, insisted that dialogue and not hostilities remained the best approach to resolving knotty issues of development in the region.

    “We call on militant groups in the Niger Delta region threatening renewed hostilities to exercise restraint to still give room for peaceful resolution of the Niger Delta question.

    “It is the inconsistent posture and lack of sincerity on the part of the Federal Government towards resolving the issues that has led to agitators running out of patience and threatening to resume hostilities. However, we strongly believe that dialogue remains the best option towards resolving the issues”.

    Omare, however, said it was hasty for members of PANDEF led by the King Alfred Diete-Spiff to have withdrawn their ultimatum after meeting with the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo.

    He said the IYC believed that mere promise of dialogue and briefing on progress made with PANDEF’s 16-point demand by the government was not enough for the elders to call off their ultimatum.

    He said the only dialogue that would solve the problems of the region permanently must be centered around restructuring to allow the region control its resources.

    He said: “As far as the IYC is concerned the key issue that the federal government needs to dialogue with the Niger Delta people is the question of restructuring with a view to achieving fiscal federalism and resource control.

    “The other issues on the PANDEF 16 points demand does not require a dialogue team between the federal government and the Niger Delta people because they are routine government responsibilities.

    “Our demand for dialogue with the federal government is to primarily address the resource ownership and control question which underpins the Niger Delta struggle over the years.

    “It is only a resolution of the resource ownership question which gives the communities a stake in the natural resources found in their land that would lead to permanent peace in the Niger Delta region.

    “The other issues on the PANDEF 16 point agenda such as take-off of academic activities at the Martime University, construction of East West Road, funding of NDDC, Amnesty programme, Ogoni clean up, etc are only palliatives but not the root cause of the Niger Delta agitation.

    “Therefore, any dialogue between the federal government and the Niger Delta people must be geared toward resolving the resource ownership and control question.

    “We make bold to say that no amount of meeting between federal government and Niger Delta leaders would bring permanent peace to the region without addressing restructuring and the resource ownership question”.

     

  • Restructuring: IYC attacks Senate over rejection  

    Restructuring: IYC attacks Senate over rejection  

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has grossly lashed out at the Nigerian Senate over its recent refusal to amend the constitution to actualize the need to decentralize or devolve powers from the Federal Government to the State Governments.

    In a press release made available to the press and signed by the National Spokesman of Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, Barr. Henry Iyalla, the apex Ijaw youth body condemned the move, saying it has exposed the level of indifference and lack of interest by majority of the Senators.

    The group noted that it was regrettable that this issue is happening at the time when majority of the people are strongly resolved towards restructuring the country.

    The statement further noted that it would be in the best interest of the Senate to reconsider their position on the issue of devolution of powers to the State as their refusal to accept it does not serve the general purpose or interest of the Niger Delta people and Nigerians.

    The statement reads in part: “It’s quite unfortunate that the Senate who has the Opportunity to restructure this country in line with the tenets and principles of True Fiscal Federalism has failed to do so.

    “We must however continue to agitate for the decentralization of powers as against the quasi- military or unitary system of Government we operate; anything to the contrary would be against our age-long agitation for Resource Control and Self-Determination. We emphasize that states should be given the powers to manage and control their own resources”.

    The Ijaw Youth Council in its statement has therefore challenged the Senate to convoke a Constituent Assembly were all ethnic groups would sit to determine the veracity of rejecting the operation of true federalism in Nigeria.

    “Let it be said unequivocally, that the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and the Niger Delta people as a whole would reject any move aimed at perpetually subjecting our people to a life of penury in plenty.

    “We call on the President of the Senate and all distinguished Senators to review their stand in other to help a country that is in dire need of mental and physical restructuring.”

     

  • Ijaw youths accuse EFCC of humiliating Jonathan’s family

    Ijaw youths accuse EFCC of humiliating Jonathan’s family

    • Ask EFCC to return Bayelsa’s seized funds

    Ijaw youths on Thursday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of deliberately executing a planned witch-hunt against former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience.

    The youths said it was “unacceptable, immoral and illegal” to place the former first family on media trial without following due process.

    The angry youths under the aegis of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, said it was unfortunate that the EFCC could not learn from the fallout of the way it handled the case of former ex-militant leader, Government Ekpuompolo, alias Tomoplo.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, the President of IYC, Mr. Udens Eradiri, said the EFCC’s indiscreet media trial of Tompolo led to the crisis in the Niger Delta that plunged the country into the current economic mess.

    Eradiri explained that Jonathan’s wife like most former First Ladies made her money from gifts and gratifications insisting that there was no law against such gestures.

    He said: “First Ladies in Nigeria do not do any work. A woman naturally attracts a lot of gifts from men let alone a First Lady who has the power to recommend you for something.

    “They receive a lot of thank you and gratifications because most cases they recommend people who come back to thank them. Even when they do not recommend, people go and say good morning with a million dollar. It did not start with Patience Jonathan.

    “We know how influential the former First Lady of this country and other First Ladies were. We know how powerful, rich and wealthy they are and the property they acquired as a result of gratification.

    “If you say Patience should show how she made her money, you must start with all the First Ladies, otherwise, it is a witch-hunt. Patience Jonathan got her wealth from thank you and there is nowhere in the law that says we should not receive thank you.

    “So, EFCC should stop this nonsense. If you have issues, go and follow the due process and don’t begin to use the media to tarnish the image of the former first family”.

    He said the youths would not tolerate further attacks and insults on Jonathan’s family adding that the former President deserved respect.

    According to him despite the humiliation Jonathan suffered from the wife of late former President Musa Yar’Adua, he never harassed the late President’s family.

    “Jonathan should be respected in Nigeria. You heard what happened during the time of late President Yar’Adua, Jonathan did not witch-hunt that family irrespective of the humiliation he suffered despite the position of the law.

    “This is a witch-hunt and the EFCC must stop this attitude because very soon, people will begin to resist them. Nigerians will get to the point where they will no longer accept it.

    “We support the fight against corruption. All of us know that corruption has eaten deep into our fabric, but this selective fight especially geared towards the region must not be allowed”, Eradir said.

    He lamented that despite the corruption traced to the former late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha and his family, the government still approved a university for his wife.

    “It is in this country that they talked about Abacha’s loot, yet a university had been approved for Abacha’s wife. In this same country where they said Abacha was corrupt. So, why are you treating one former first family differently and then everybody wants to humiliate Jonathan’s family in the best of their ability.

    “The former First Lady, Patience, has no question to answer.. The EFCC is destroying Buhari’s anti-graft policy because when your anti-graft is beginning to show it is one-sided, it will lose credibility,” he said.

    The IYC boss further asked the EFCC to to return about N23bn, $100million and other assets it seized from the former Governor of the state, late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

    He wondered what the EFCC was still doing with the money when Bayelsa and other states were facing financial difficulties.

    “Bayelsa State funds are in their hands, they have not returned it. Why are they keeping the funds? Are they meant to keep funds that they recovered. Why is the money not being paid into TSA of they believe they are proceeds of corruption. They should return our money. Those are the issues they should focus on”, he said.

    He added: “I thought that the EFCC by now will begin to face squarely its job of ensuring that criminals are brought to book and not the media charade that is usually its modus operandi.

    “They have not learnt from the Tompolo incident. Instead of focusing on facts and doing their jobs via due process, they quickly went to the media and that incident led this country to where we are today.”

  • Police killing: Youths, activists, others to lock down Bayelsa 

    Police killing: Youths, activists, others to lock down Bayelsa 

    Youths, activists, clerics and civil organisations are proposing to stage a mother of all protest against the alleged extra-judicial killing of a 17-year-old teenager, Master Innocent Kokorifa by the police.

    The victim was gunned down by the Anti-Vice/Anti-Kidnapping squad of the police on August 18 along the Airforce Road, at about 11am.

    Kokorifa was said to be running an errand for his mother, Pere, when he was killed in mysterious circumstances by the police.

    The father of the deceased, Mr. Daniel Kokorifa, an officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said his first child out of five children, was murdered in cold blood.
    He said the victim who was to turn 18 on September 9 was a peacemaker, a non-smoker who had no records of criminality.

    But the police in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, said the victim died in a gun battle between a three-man notorious armed robbery gang and the police squad.

    It, was however gathered yesterday that all arrangements by different groups of people to protest the killing under the auspices of House of Justice had been concluded.

    A Niger Delta activist and former Spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Jeremiah Owoupele, was said to be spearheading the protest.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, Owoupele said the protest to demand justice from the police would be massive and peaceful.

    He said women, youths from various parts of the state, members of IYC, human rights activists, lawyers and Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO) had indicated an interest to join the protest.

    He described the killing of Kokorifa as unwarranted, avoidable saying it had plunged the deceased family into mourning.

    He said: “We can’t even comprehend the position of the Nigerian Police Force, an agency of government whose primary responsibility is to provide security, protect lives  and ensure peace in our society. But the police have suddenly  become an instrument of death.

    “It is even more tragic and more painful, the pace at which the Bayelsa Police Public Relations Officer issued a statement in respect of the late juvenile Mr. Kokorifa Innocent as being a criminal whose death was as a result of gun fire exchange with men of the Nigerian police.

    “Perhaps most intriguing is the fact that when respected citizenry including legal minds, youth leaders and activists raised eyebrows over this particular death, the police in a meeting with the deceased family pleaded with them to excercise restraint and allow the police command to investigate the matter.

    “This statement shows a deliberate attempt to cover up the culprits of this dastardly act. Is it not standard police practice for the police to conclude investigations before issuing a statement to the public”.

    Owoupele said the demonstration was designed to ask the police to investigate the untimely death of Kokorifa and bring the perpetrators to justice describing the act and conduct of the police as unprofessional and unethical .

    He said the eyewitness account of the incident was at variance with the statement issued by the command’s PPRO.

    According to him the protest would further persuade the police to enforce internal professional discipline within their ranks and reappraise the kind of characters they recruit into their fold.