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Tag: Ijaw Youth Council

  • 2027: Ijaw Youth Council endorses Tinubu, Fubara

    2027: Ijaw Youth Council endorses Tinubu, Fubara

    …demands clean-up of polluted Ijaw communities

    The second-term ambitions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, received a boost on Sunday as the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide endorsed their re-election bids ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The council also urged relevant government agencies to immediately commence comprehensive remediation and clean-up of all polluted Ijaw territories.

    The endorsement was contained in a communiqué signed by the IYC President, Dr. Alaye Theophilus, and issued to journalists in Abuja following the council’s National Convention.

    Passing a vote of confidence on both leaders, the council stated, “Through a resounding voice affirmation, the Convention unanimously passed a vote of confidence and endorsement on His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, for a second tenure, and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the 2027 general election.”

    The IYC said the decision was based on the leadership qualities demonstrated by Governor Fubara, particularly his commitment to peace in Rivers State as a foundation for sustainable economic growth and development.

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    According to the council, the governor’s efforts at maintaining stability and promoting inclusive governance have created an enabling environment for progress in the state, adding that continued peace remains critical to addressing developmental challenges in Ijaw communities.

    “The maturity he displayed when faced with challenges shows that he is well prepared for leadership. The governor as of day is a living Hero of democracy, an ambassador of peace, a detribalized leader par excellence.

    “While Mr President, on his own part, has won the heart of the Ijaw Youths, hence our declaration of total support of his re-election bid in 2027 is solely on his show of genuine love and commitment in making sure that there is peace in Rivers State for our Governor, Sir Siminalaye Fubara, to govern Rivers people in peace.

    “Mr. President has told us why he should be trusted, and we have seen it with the way he managed the Rivers State political impasse. Mr. President has given us reasons why the Ijaw Youths should support his re-election bid, and we have seen reasons with him. Hence, the Ijaw Youths hereby declare our unalloyed support for Mr. President come 2027.”

    Reviewing the environmental status of the entire South-south region, the council gave another 60-day ultimatum to all relevant agencies to immediately commence full-scale remediation and clean-up of all polluted Ijaw territories and avoid the shutting down of all oil and gas facilities within Ijaw territories

    It added that the Ijaw people would no longer tolerate the destruction of their land, waters, livelihoods, and future.

    The communique read, “The Convention unequivocally condemned the continued ecological violence, oil pollution, and environmental degradation being inflicted on Ijaw territories through decades of reckless oil and gas exploitation.

    “This Convention makes it abundantly clear that the Ijaw people will no longer tolerate the destruction of their land, waters, livelihoods, and future.

    “Upon the expiration of this ultimatum, and in the absence of visible and concrete action, the Ijaw Youth Council shall collectively and decisively shut down all oil and gas facilities operating within Ijaw territories, drawing precedence from the Ogoniland no remediation,  no oil and gas exploration and exploitation approach.”

  • Ijaw youths hold national convention on constitution review

    Ijaw youths hold national convention on constitution review

    All roads led to the ancient city of Odi in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State over the weekend as the umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide held its national convention on constitution review.

    Former IYC presidents, youth leaders, Zonal leaders, clan leaders, government functionaries, lawmakers from Bayelsa and other states joined the IYC President Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr to make the convention a reality.

    Declaring the convention open, Lokpobiri said It was with great pride and a deep sense of responsibility that he stood before Ijaw sons and daughters at the 2024 you today at this National Convention, with the theme: ‘Sustainable Drive and Self-Determination for Our Development’.

    He said the convention was both timely and critical for the future of Ijaw people, noting, “We are gathered here, united in our shared commitment to securing a brighter future for the Ijaw Nation.

    “As we sit together today, we are not merely participants in a convention; we are stewards of a movement that has endured for generations.

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    “We are the ones who, through our actions, will shape the path forward for our people, ensuring that the struggles we face today will pave the way for a stronger and more unified Ijaw Nation.

    “I want to express my sincere gratitude to all the leaders and youth who have taken the time to be part of this event. Your presence here today speaks volumes about the strength of our collective will and the unwavering commitment we have to the cause of our people.”

    The IYC President further said: “As we engage today, let us keep in mind the legacy we are leaving for the generations that will come after us. The decisions and resolutions we make today will lay the foundation for their success, just as the decisions made by our forebears have paved the way for us. We must be mindful of the challenges they will face, and we must ensure that the path we chart today empowers them to build upon the work we have done.”

    Also speaking, a former Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon Tonye Isenah, appealed to youths to be peaceful and united.

  • IYC seeks cancellation of results in Bayelsa

    The Ijaw Youth Council ( IYC ) Worldwide has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel results in some parts of Bayelsa State.

    The Ijaw group told INEC that the Ijaws in Nembe-Bassambiri, Nembe Local Government Area were denied their rights to vote alleging that electoral materials meant for the area were hijacked by thugs in connivance with security agencies.

    The Secretary-General, IYC, Alfred Kemepado, said violence was unleashed on the Ijaw communities adding that an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was kidnapped by the thugs, who frustrated voting in the area.

    Describing the general scenario as monumental shame, Kemepado said it was shocking that some results emerged from Nembe- Bassambiri without voting and use of card readers.

    He wondered why violence was the order of the day in an era elections could only be adjudged free and fair through the use of PVCs and card readers.

    He said: “It is shocking in this era of card readers and personal voter’s cards (PVCs), where individuals are encouraged to vote for candidates of their choice that people can still primitively resort to terrorising and carting away both personnel and materials.

    “We earlier warned that security agencies, especially the Nigerian Military were colluding with political thugs to perpetuate this fraud and jungle politics in the Niger Delta. We also said that they should be called to order by the Chief of Army staff”.

    Kemepado alleged that the military aided political thugs to steal electoral materials in Bassambiri and to destroy already cast votes in Agbere and other Ijaw territories like Abonema in Rivers State.

    He said: We call on INEC to cancel the election in these areas with obvious malpractice and reschedule elections that will ensure free and fair process only.

    “Furthermore, whoever, including the Nigerian Military that has unjustly killed our citizens in the guise of processing elections would be brought to justice nationally and internationally.

    ‘We have reports of the murder of innocent citizens in the southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa State and some parts of Rivers State to deepen their intimidation of Ijaw people.

    “The intimidation of Ijaw people has never worked from the times of the colonial masters and will never work no matter how it comes”.

  • Court remands IYC deputy chair for ‘robbery’

    The Federal High Court 7 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State at the weekend remanded the Deputy Chairman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Central Zone, Mr. Amiebi Turner, in prison for alleged robbery.

    He was arraigned on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms, conspiracy and robbery, contrary to Bayelsa laws.

    Turner, who was brought before Justice Ineikade Eradiri, pleaded not guilty.

    Counsel to the accused, W.C. Akeni, who led seven other lawyers, told the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of the accused.

    He said they would move the bail application since it had been served the court and the attorney-general.

    But the prosecuting lawyer, A.F. Arthur, who appeared with the fiat of the attorney-general, said he had no copy of the application and pleaded for time to respond to the application.

    He said the state would call six witnesses and urged the court to remand the accused at the Federal Prison, Okaka, since he had been in police custody.

    But Akeni said they were ready to begin the trial if permitted by the court.

    The court adjourned the case till October 11 for trial and bail application.

     

  • IYC, Igbo group urge members to support pro-restructuring candidates

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide and the Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC) at the weekend appealed to their members to support pro-restructuring candidates irrespective of their political parties in the 2019 general elections. 

    The leaders of the groups, who met at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, specifically urged their members to cast their votes for candidates, whose manifestoes support restructuring.

    The Igbo leaders comprised the South-South Coordinator of OYC, Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa; South-South Secretary, OYC, Ogoegbunam Ifeanyi; OYC leaders, Cross River, Remy Agwuzie; Delta State, Chief Chris Ezeukwu; Rivers State, Ezeilo Franklin and Akwa Ibom, Chief Nelson Udeze.

    The Igbo leaders’ delegation later met with the leadership of the IYC, Central Zone, chaired by Mr. Tari Porri.

    Prior to their meeting with Porri’s leadership, the Igbo delegates in a communique signed by Franklin, called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency set up machinery in motion to restructure the country.

    “It has become more strident even as it has been generally agreed by all ethnic nationalities and even the political party at the centre that there is a need to restructure the Nigerian state for better efficiency”, they said.

    The Igbo leaders also asked the multinational companies to relocate their headquarters to the Niger Delta region in line with the directive of the Presidency.

    Read Also: IYC warns against subversion of democracy

    They said the relocation would enhance harmonious relationship between the oil companies and their host communities and further enthrone mutual trust, respect and peace in the region.

    The leaders emphasized the need for mutual coexistence  between the south-south and the South-East for progress and development.

    In a meeting with Porri, Aurthur-Ugwa, who is also the Bayelsa State President of OYC said the youths were making plans to hold a summit on restructuring.

    Porri in his remarks commended his Igbo counterparts for their position on restructuring saying it was in tandem with the views of the Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson.

    He said the youths took a decision to support only pro-restructuring candidates in the forthcoming general elections.

    “We have resolved to have a cordial relationship with the Igbos across the world. Anywhere you see Igbo man and Ijaw man we are friends and brothers. This will further encourage us to be our brothers’ keepers. 

    “We have also reaffirmed our commitment, support and solidarity with our fathers around the world on the resolution that the 2019 general election is a referendum on restructuring.

    “The youth wings of Ijaw nation and Ohaneze have resolved that we are working together to vote for a presidential candidate that believes in the restructuring of this country”, he said.

  • 2019: Nigerian youths charged not to settle for ‘crumbs’

    Nigerian youths have been charged not to settle for “crumbs” but take their “rightful” place in the forthcoming general elections.

    President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Barr. Oweilaemi Pereotubo, gave the charge in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri on Friday.

    Barr. Pereotubo also declared that only candidates and political parties who believe in “restructuring at all levels” should be given support.

    According to the statement, which analyzed the pivotal roles played by youths who reportedly constitute over 65% of the active voting population, young people have been poorly treated in all sectors of the society.

    “It is very obvious that youths play the most sensitive and most significant roles at all levels including in the various political parties. The question here is: how well has our great youths been treated? What has been our reward after elections?

    “The answers and aftermath stories have been very unpalatable, unpleasant and undesirable. It has been so because the leaders we work and sacrifice everything including our lives do not value or appreciate our sacrifices. They do not know our worth. They feel youths cannot do without them.

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    “They feel youths cannot survive without the peanuts and crumbs that fall from their tables but that is not true. Our great youths can do far better without the crumbs because we are the ones that work for the whole from which they pinch out the crumbs for us,” Pereotubo lamented.

    Giving examples of young persons, President Kurz of Austria, President Macron of France, Comrade Malema of South Africa, among others across the world, he stated that Nigerian youths cannot be left behind in the “global trend”.

    He urged youths to “aspire for greatness” and vie for political offices both at the federal and state levels, emphasizing thus: “we must leave the back seat our leaders have given us and take our rightful positions in 2019. We should bear in mind that freedom is never given, rather it is taken by the oppressed and exploited.”

    Further commending leaders who have overtime worked with and supported youths, the IYC president added that opportunities to serve be given to those who have shown competence to so do.

  • 2019: Okowa Has Done Nothing to Get Our Votes – Ijaw youths

    Governor of Delta state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has been said to have done nothing to get the support of Ijaw people in the state come 2019 polls.

    The Ijaw Youth Council, while disclosing this in a statement circulated Warri on Thursday, assured that unless the “miraculous” happens within the next eight months, it will do everything to frustrate the election campaigns in its areas.

    According to the IYC president, Barr. Oweilaemi Pereotubo, Burutu council area alone gave the third largest votes that saw the governor’s emergence in 2015, yet it has neither infrastructure nor human capital development to show as reward.

    He opined that this was why the governor is yet to visit any of the Ijaw local government areas for town hall meetings, as he had done to nearly 21 others.

    Read Also: Okowa decries high number of IDPs

    The statement, in parts, reads thus: “the question that readily comes to my mind as an Ijaw man, and leader of the teeming Ijaw youths world wide, is what has Okowa done in terms of development in Ijaw land to merit our votes? The answer to this mind-boggling question is practically nothing, just nothing. Yet Burutu Local Government Area alone gave Dr. Okowa the third highest votes in 2015. The reward for this bulk vote from the people is lack of infrastructural and human capital development.

    “Okowa has gone round nearly all the twenty-one local council areas in Delta State holding town hall meetings and commissioning projects. The sad story is that he has not been to any of the Ijaw local council to hold town hall meetings because the people will look at him eyeball to eyeball to go out to commission projects if he has any. He has therefore completely avoided going to these areas.”

    Listing legacy projects executed by the past two administrations, the Bomadi Bridge by Chief James Ibori and the School of Maritime Technology, Burutu, by Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Pereotubo accused the Okowa-led government of further depleting the Ijaw nation.

    “Our reward from Okowa is abandonment in all facets of his administration. If Okowa and his apologists are disputing our claims, we challenge him to convene a town hall meeting to tell the people the projects he has done in Ijaw land.

    Most of the projects he has been using to deceive the people are just on paper. There’s no visible work going on anywhere including the much publicized Ayakoromo bridge project.

    “Instead of adding to us, Governor Okowa takes away from the Ijaw nation. The only higher institution in Ijaw, the School of Maritime Technology, Burutu has since been fragmented into bits of campuses to the extent that the students population which was once exploding in Burutu is now depleted,” the statement said further

  • Water Resources Bill may renew hostilities in Niger Delta – IYC

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has said the Water Resources Executive Bill currently on the floor of the National Assembly (NASS), is capable of renewing hostilities between the federal government and people of the Niger Delta region.

    Speaking at a press conference centred on the state of the nation in Warri, Delta state on Saturday, Oweilaemi, described the bill as another “neo-colonisation” ploy of the president Muhammadu Buhari-led administration against the oil-rich region.

    Stating that the group will do all within its powers to resist the bill, he called on the NASS to either reject it “out rightly or, remove the clauses that seek to control the surface and groundwater resources including river beds and banks.”

    The Ijaw youths’ president further stated that issues relating to water resources management be left under the control of state governments.

    “On the water resources executive Bill currently in the NASS, the position of IYC is that the said Bill is another neo-colonisation agenda by the Federal Government to annihilate and subjugate the destinies of the Niger Delta people thereby subjecting the people to eternal colony. We reject the Bill in its entirety as it will only end up causing disaffection between the Niger Delta people and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “We have perused the spirits and letters of the said Bill clause by clause. There is nothing in the proposed law that will benefit the Niger Delta people. This is a clear departure from the sacred constitutional requirements of enacting laws which are for the public good, public morality and public safety. A Bill that is designed to divest the people of natural resources in their domains cannot bring peace and good governance to the people.

    Read Also: Niger Delta communities to Buhari: probe JTF activities

    “IYC therefore is of the view that the National Assembly should as a matter of public good and for the sake of our corporate coexistence reject the Bill. The management of the water resources should be left with the states. We on our own part will do everything humanly position within the ambit of the law to resist the passage of the Bill. We do not want a repeat of history in the region. This is a surreptitious means to reintroduce the butch cattle colony. Niger Delta people will resist it even with the last drop of our blood,” Oweilaemi said.

    Remarking on the staggering compliance of the sit-at-home order of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), he re-echoed calls for the implementation of fiscal federalism and resource control.

    Other issues the IYC harped on was the quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, with its initial 10% equity share for oil communities and the relocation of oil multinationals’, including Shell Petroleum Development Company, corporate headquarters to the Niger Delta.

  • Ijaw youths warn amnesty boss against politicizing scheme

    Youths under the auspices of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, on Friday, warned the new Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Prof. Quaker Dokubo, against using his office to fund political ambitions.

    They urged the Dokubo to pay attention to the core mandate of the amnesty programme particularly the educational component of the scheme.

    The youths in a statement signed by the Secretary-General, IYC, Mr. Alfred Kemapado, said more than anything else, the Ijaw and other youths in the Niger Delta were in need of quality education.

    Kemapado in a statement in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, called on Dokubo to take the programme to a new height far beyond mere payment of stipends to ex-militants.

    He further appealed to the new boss to put the interests of the Ijaw and the Niger Delta ahead of his personal pursuits.

    While hailing the new coordinator on his appointment, he said: “We call on him to advance the programme far beyond where he has met it. Many of us have been silent with how that office was reduced because of the hope that corrections were going to be made soon.

    Read Also: Ijaw leaders gather in Bayelsa, seek unity, economic integration

    “As we thank the Presidency for bringing you, a seeming competent hand, we also call on you to put the Ijaw and Niger Delta national interest ahead of your personal interest.

    “We expect you to see the amnesty programme far beyond just the payment of stipends for ex-militants, but concentrate on the educational component of the amnesty programme.

    “Just as the holy scriptures say that our ‘people perish for lack of knowledge’, you are expected to fund the education of our people in relevant areas alongside current global happenings and projections.

    “We also call on Professor Dokubo to train more of our youths abroad for the formal and the informal sector. We expect him also to settle all outstanding fees of our students abroad and ensure our trained Seafarers and Pilots get relevant attachment.

    “We also call on you to patronise more of our  Ijaw and Niger Delta service providers in the amnesty office and avoid using the office to fund political ambitions and related avarice.

    “At every point in time the amnesty office must realize that, more than anything the Ijaws need quality education. We assure you of our support and prayers as you do the right thing for our people”.
     

  • Youth parliament seeks partnership for peace, jobs in Bayelsa

    The Bayelsa State chapter of the Nigerian Youth Parliament (NYP) is disturbed by myriads of challenges facing the youths in the state. NYP is sad that the sorry state of affairs is compounded by the youths themselves. There is disunity even among major youth organisation like the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide.

    Following such disunity, youths speak in discordant tunes and fail to command deserved respect from other members of the society. The group is also bothered by increasing level of unemployment arising from lack of job opportunities in the state.

    Besides, the group wants youths and women to participate actively in politics. It believes that their participation will help solve some of their problems especially when they are elected into positions of authority. These issues topped the agenda when the NYP met separately with the Secretary-General of IYC, Mr. Alfred Kemepado and a member of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Daniel Igali.

    The state leaders of NYP, Mr. Atti Moses, Mr. Nicole Modu-Spiff and Mr. Timbiri Ebitimi, told Kemepado that IYC should seek ways to create job opportunities for the youths. He said empowering the youths and engaging them in meaningful ventures would address the problems of crimes in the state.

    Moses lamented armed robberies in the state saying that hoodlums had overran the streets. “Hoodlums are robbing people of their belongings especially in partnership with commercial tricyclists,” he said.

    He complained that instead of addressing the problems, the police were in the habit of indiscriminately arresting people in Yenagoa. He asked IYC to stop the police from brutalising members of the public especially the youths.

    Moses further appealed to IYC to lead the vanguard for youth participation in politics ahead of the forthcoming elections.

    “We want to urge you to use your good office to motivate women to come out for elective positions”, he said, adding that Kemepado had made the youths proud through his leadership qualities.

    Also in his speech, Modu-Spiff, urged IYC to resolve its differences and embrace unity. He said the Ijaw was in need of unity and peace to ensure progress and development.

    “We the Ijaws, we ought to love one another. We need to look out for one another. But we notice that when it comes to politics, we go to the extreme

    “When it comes to political affairs, we go to the extreme. We may have a friend in another political party, but when it comes to political affairs, we forget our relationship with that person. We should remove party colouration to our relationship and daily affairs so that after politics we may still come together and do our business”.

    But Ebitimi complained bitterly about the absence of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) projects in the state.

    He said: “We believe that NDDC is seen to be one of the basic Federal Government intervention agency in the Niger Delta.

    “As a matter of fact, Bayelsa is the heart and centre of Ijaw nation, but we could hardly see visible NDDC project in Bayelsa State. If at all NDDC has approved 100 per cent of their project, it’s only 30 per cent we can visibly see. I want to call on the leadership of IYC to take up the responsibility in terms of monitoring their projects programmes in Bayelsa.

    “I use this medium to seek your appeal on Job creation. All multinationals operating in the South-South region, have their headquarters out of the South-South region and that is what the ijaw youths have been advocating against. All multinationals operating within Nigeria should move their base to the south south. I don’t think we have achieved more on that note.”

    The youths also took their advocacy to Igali, a member of the state House of Assembly. The youth leaders told Igali, who is the President of Nigerian Wrestling Federation (NWF), to facilitate a meeting between them and the Speaker of the House, Mr. Kombowei Benson.

    Igali, who represents Southern Ijaw Constituency III,  promised to pass their message to the speaker.