The Nation Newspaper

Tag: IYC

  • ‘Why IYC is seen as a wing of PDP’

    ‘Why IYC is seen as a wing of PDP’

    Eric Omare, a lawyer and spokesperson of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), speaks on the growing influence of the Ijaw in the Niger Delta and other issues affecting the region. SHOLA O’NEIL met him.

    The election that brought the Udengs Eradiri-led exco was dogged by controversy; what is the situation now?

    The election into the IYC in October 2013 was inconclusive. Some persons went ahead and declared some of the candidates as winners, which resulted in several protests. The national leadership of the Ijaw National Congress, under late Senator Tari Sekibo nullified that election. That nullification was confirmed by Chief Edwin Clark, in a leadership meeting in Abuja. Thereafter, the leadership of Ijaw nation mandated the Adviser to President Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Hon Kingsley Kuku, Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs, Dr Felix Tuodolor and Elder TK Ogoriba to lead a process to conduct another election. That election was done in February 2014 and new leadership emerged under Comrade Udengs Eradiri and I also emerged as the spokesperson. Peace has returned to the IYC.

    On the use of money to influence outcome of the election

    The problem is that in recent times some people seem to look at the IYC as a political wing and extension of the ruling party (PDP) with a view to using the platform to achieve their political aims and support their candidates in an election. I think that is the reason why there have been a lot of issues regarding the election. Ordinarily, IYC election, like any struggle organisation, ought not to be affected with money. But now there seems to be a lot of money involved in the election. This present leadership is already reacting to that by way of initiating a review process, which will substantially address the issue of campaign funding. Money will no longer be an issue at the conclusion of the constitution review process.

    What is the relationship between the IYC and other ethnic youth bodies in the Niger Delta?

    The foundation of the IYC is the Kaiama Declaration and one of the articles of that declaration is to extend arm of friendship to other ethnic nationalities. The founding fathers of the IYC realise the fact that we cannot achieve resource control or self-determination without working with other ethnic nationalities. From the onset we realised that there is need for IYC to work with other ethnic groups. Part of the things the new leadership is doing is to reach out to other ethnic nationalities in the region with a view to addressing some of the issues affecting the region. For example, one of the most tropical issues now is oil theft. You cannot address it without involving other ethnic nationalities such as the Itsekiri, Urhobos, Ikwerres, Ogonis etc because the oil facilities are not only in Ijaw land; they are in other ethnic nationalities. So you need everybody involved.

    There is suspicion that Ijaw youths are exerting undue influence to the detriment of other ethnic nationalities in the region because an Ijaw man is the President and the amnesty programme is being heavily tilted in your favour.

    Yes, there have been such complaints but you have to look at it in the context of what is happening and how we got to where we are. The complaint is basically arising from the benefits from the amnesty programme. But if you go back to the history of militancy in the Niger Delta, you will agree with me that militancy was mainly an Ijaw affair. We appreciate the contribution of other ethnic nationalities but the arm struggle was more of an Ijaw affair and the essence of the amnesty programme was to rehabilitate those who took up arms. There was supposed to be a component of the programme that would take care of nonviolent agitators who didn’t take up arms but it seems that the attention for now are those that took up arms and those are mainly Ijaws. I do not think there is any deliberate effort to marginalise other ethnic nationalities.

    Are you impressed with the execution of the amnesty programme, the process and outcome?

    In my view, the amnesty programme is a success in many ramifications. It is a success in respect to bringing peace in the Niger Delta; in cases of oil facilities sabotage and oil production has also increased. A lot of people that ordinarily would not have had the opportunity of obtaining education or training in various forms have now obtained those trainings. In my view, the amnesty programme under the leadership of Hon Kingsley Kuku seems to be the only measure between the government and the Niger Delta people. If not because of the amnesty programme, I don’t think majority of our people would have had the impact of the Goodluck President…

    The gains of the programme are being eroded by the illegal bunkering and shut-ins because of vandalism and sabotages.

    I agree with you that some the gains of the amnesty programme are being taken away by oil theft. When we assumed office one of the issues we take very seriously is oil theft. We believe that it cannot be resolved by mainly saving Mr A, B or C is responsible. We have to adopt a holistic solution. I followed proceedings of the Delta State Oil and Gas conference on oil theft and I think stakeholders correctly identified the causes and actors – communities, security agencies and multinationals.  Recently, Mr President said in Holland that the Federal Government has budgeted $1 billion to address the issue, but we think it is not enough to budget N1bn, you must engage the relevant stakeholders for it to have the required effect, like the amnesty programme. In the days ahead, the IYC will come out with its position with other ethnic nationalities. Once the stakeholders agree that it most stop and the right steps are taken, the issue will be addressed.

  • Last word: IYC…Peace at what cost?

    •Last Word is Niger Delta Report’s verdict on Southsouth affairs

    The post-election crisis which tore the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) apart for about six months, the country was told some days back, is now over. Before then, there were concerns that the crisis could affect the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is Ijaw. So, it was not surprising that when it was resolved, the resolution was attributed to the interest of the 2015 ambition of Jonathan.

    While the crisis raged, it was like the heaven was going to fall. Allegations were bantered. The election, which produced the new leadership, was said to have been rigged. The number of delegates who voted were said to have been more than the accreditted delegates. Offices or age meant nothing to the agitators. They were just ready to rbbish whoever was not on their side. The ordinary people even felt the brunt because on more than one occasion, supporters of the major forces blocked roads in Bayelsa State, with threats flying left and centre.

    Reports indicate that Jonathan’s reelection featured prominently in most of the discussions which finally led to the sheathing of swords. The gladiators were ‘compelled’ to reach an agreement to save Jonathan’s re-election bid. It was said that many were of the opinion that allowing the crisis to continue would affect Jonathan’s electoral fortunes.

    What this means is that the October 2013 election which produced Udens Eradiri as the President of IYC stands. Some weeks back, Eradiri had carpetted an Abuja meeting at the residence of the Ijaw Leader, E.K Clark. The meeting caused many ripples and further divided the youth body. The outcome of the meeting was seen by confidants of Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and Eradiri as dangerous to the Jonathan’s ambition. The meeting announced the dissolution of the structures of IYC.

    The Lagos meeting, which was championed by the Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, persuaded aggrieved candidates to give peace a chance . And it is believed to have worked the miracle.

    Prominent Ijaw leaders, including Clark, former Minister of Police Affairs Broderick Bozimo and Bayelsa State Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs Dr. Felix Tuodolor, played key roles in the new-found peace.

    Commenting on the state of things, Clark, speaking through Bozimo, urged Ijaw people to unite to galvanise support for Jonathan in his re-election bid.

    He said: “We all know that this is indeed a trying times for the Ijaw nation and IYC is the foot soldiers of the Ijaw. There is need for unity among us to be able to rally support for our son, President Goodluck Jonathan in his 2015 re-election bid.

    “I am happy the Ijaw youths have closed ranks and put all their differences behind them. I am happy that Eradiri said the struggle for Ijaw unity would be taken to an intellectual level through capacity building for the youth.”

    Bozimo, speaking for himself, said: “We are totally committed to the Jonathan project. All of us in the Ijaw land are with Jonathan 100 per cent. We are urging him to contest and it has to be done peacefully because he is going to win.”

    Tuodolor said: “The election was controversial, but we thank God we have resolved it. Edwin Clark, Kingsley Kuku and other respectable Ijaw leaders joined the peace process and ensured the crisis was resolved.

    “As we have come together, let us forgive ourselves. Out there, there is a big battle for the Ijaw people. We can only win if we are united.”

    But, the peace was not for nothing. Most of the agitators, especially persons who contested the presidential election against Eradiri, were promised one largesse or the other. What this will cost the Bayelsa State government and the Amnesty Office in naira and kobo will never be made public. In the real sense of it, the peace was bought and not really from the heart of the gladiators. It was a cse of nothing goes for nothing. Some may say what is wrong in that when in the first place, the quest for leadership of the body was all about being properly positioned to benefit from the national cake, which incidentally, is being shared by their son, Jonathan.

  • IYC vows to rescue Jonathan’s uncle

    IYC vows to rescue Jonathan’s uncle

    •Tension mounts in Bayelsa

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) yesterday said it would secure the release of President Goodluck Jonathan’s uncle, Chief Inengite Nitabai, who was kidnapped at gunpoint last week in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    Vowing to work with security agencies to secure the release of the 70-year-old man from his abductors, IYC condemned the kidnap and promised to help unmask those behind the dastardly act.

    IYC spokesman, Eric Omare, said in a statement issued Wednesday that the foremost Ijaw Youth group had already constituted a three-man committee to liaise with the security agencies to rescue the old man.

    “The Ijaw Youth Council, worldwide condemns in the strongest term, the kidnap of the 70-year-old” he said.

    Describing the incident as unfortunate, the group said the incident was coming at a time when President Jonathan needed to be fully concentrated to face the challenges of governing Nigeria.

    He expressed sympathy to the Jonathan/Nitabai family of Otuoke, saying that IYC would work with security agencies to fish out the kidnappers.

    Maintaining that there is no hiding place for kidnappers and criminals in Ijaw land, IYC reiterated that kidnapping and criminality is alien to Ijaw culture.

    The group said it believes that no crime can be committed without the involvement of people within the immediate environment.

    Omara added that this formed the basis why the group had resolved to confront kidnapping and all forms of crimes in Ijawland.

    The group also called on the Bayelsa State Government to ensure that the kidnappers of Nitabai are brought to book and its anti-kidnapping law tested.

    The statement contended that kidnapping and criminality cannot stop without bringing to justice those involved in the act.

    Unknown gunmen seized Nitabai in his family compound and whisked him away in a sports utility vehicle (SUV).

    His wife, in a bid to stop his abduction, had allegedly offered the gunmen about N400,000 to no avail.

    However, the Bayelsa State Police Command said two persons have been arrested in connection with the abduction and are helping security operatives in their investigation.

    Bayelsa State was all fear yesterday as the state government and security agencies struggled to deal with the embarrassment of the abduction of Nitabai.

    Nitabai spent his seventh day in the den of the hoodlums yesterday with the security agencies yet to find a clue to his whereabouts.

    He was seized from his Otuoke home, in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state last Sunday by 10 gunmen who have since established contact with his family, demanding a N500million ransom.

    Following persistent kidnappings in the state, the House of Assembly passed a bill which prescribed the death penalty for convicts.

    Governor Seriake Dickson signed the bill into law but no one has yet been tried under it.

    Nitabai’s abduction is raising questions about the seriousness of the authorities to make the law work.

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) wants the state government to use the Nitabai abduction to test the efficacy of the law.

    IYC, in a statement by its spokesman, Eric Omare, asked Governor Dickson to ensure that the abductors are apprehended and brought to book, saying that unless people involved in kidnapping are dealt with the illegal booming business would continue.

    It also described the abduction as a distraction to President Jonathan.

    “Coming at a time when President Jonathan needs to be in the best frame of mind to face the challenges of governing a complex nation such as Nigeria is most unfortunate”, it said and announced the setting up of a three-man team to work with security agencies to find Nitabai.

    “There is no hiding place for kidnappers and criminals in Ijawland. Kidnapping and criminality is alien to Ijaw culture,” it declared.

    “The IYC believes that no crime can be committed without the involvement of people within the immediate environment. Hence, the resolve to confront kidnapping and all forms of crimes in Ijaw land.”

    Some other relations of the President are said to be apprehensive about their own safety following the kidnapping.

  • IYC, INC reject Ijaw elders’ decision

    IYC, INC reject Ijaw elders’ decision

    A section of the crisis-ridden Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) rejected yesterday the dissolution order slammed on the council by some Ijaw elders and leaders of thought.

    The elders, led by Chief Edwin Clark, in a meeting on January 30 in Abuja, suspended IYC structures till June 2015 and ordered that a temporary committee be established to manage the affairs of the youth body.

    Rising from an emergency convention held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the youths told the elders that they lacked powers to proscribe IYC structures.

    The youths, in a seven-point communiqué, said the decision was against the desire of the Ijaw to retain the Presidency in 2015.

    Besides, they said such declaration would only succeed in reducing the support base of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    They also unanimously upheld last October’s election of Udengs Eradiri as the President of the council.

    The youths gave a five-day ultimatum to their elders to reverse their decision, saying they had resolved themselves to sheathe their swords and work with Eradiri.

    It also announced the dissolution of three zonal chairmen—Saviour Olali (central), Preye Okaba(western), Hamilton Opuende (eastern)—and speaker of parliament, Deme Yinkore, “who voluntarily resigned and dissolved themselves”.

    Also, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) condemned the elders. INC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Pastor Victor Burubo, in Port Harcourt declared that it would stand by the truth.

    It said: “The attention of the INC has been drawn to a five-day ultimatum issued to the INC and Ijaw elders to reverse the dissolution of all IYC structures at all levels.

    “The INC wishes to make it clear that congress was not, is not and will not be part of any illegal and arbitrary decision to dissolve the duly-elected organs of the IYC at all levels.”

     

    “The INC affirms that the crisis rocking the IYC affects only the National Executive of the IYC and does not in any way affect the parliament, the zones or the clans.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the INC is not part of any decision to dissolve all the duly-elected structures of the IYC. The Parliament of the IYC and the zonal structures are still in office and their decisions have the force of law, according to the Constitution of the IYC.”

     

     

  • Ijaw youths fume over Obasanjo’s letter

    Ijaw youths fume over Obasanjo’s letter

    …Accuses ex-President heating up polity

    Ijaw youths on Friday expressed their displeasure with the controversial letter written to President Goodluck Jonathan by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    The youths under the aegis of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) accused Obasanjo of heating up the polity with his letter and alleged that the former President crafted his letter in bad faith.

    The aggrieved youths said that the series of attacks against Jonathan could destroy the country.

    President of the IYC, Udengs Eradiri, who addressed journalists in Yenagoa asked Obasanjo to evaluate himself before making provocative and spurious comments.

    He said Obasanjo was wrong to have associated Jonathan with violence, adding that it was not in the character of Ijaw people to take delight in killing people.

    Eradiri said Obasanjo wrote out of deep-seated animosity, claiming that the ex-President was determined to pull Jonathan down.

    He said: “In this country, leaders who see that others will surpass them; they will decide to drag him down and that is what is playing out in the case of Obasanjo’s letter to Jonathan.

    “The achievements that Jonathan has put on the table will be difficult for any other president to surpass in the country. But he is a man who does not know how to blow his trumpet.”

    He said no amount of campaign of calumny would stop Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015.

    He said the President should be allowed to enjoy second term in office like his predecessors, including Obasanjo.

     

     

  • Court stops Ijaw elders from cancelling IYC election

    The State High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has issued an order stopping the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the umbrella body of Ijaw elders, from cancelling the elections of its youth body, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).

    The court presided over by Justice Rapheal Ajuwa said INC should stay action on its intention to cancel the election in which Mr. Udens Eradiri, was declared the President of IYC.

    Eradiri, the claimant, had approached the court seeking an exparte order restraining INC from cancelling the poll in which he had been inaugurated as the president.

    The order specifically restrained principal officials of INC including its President, Chief T.J Sekibo, from setting aside the results of the election.

    The Vice-President and National Secretary INC, Charles Ambaiowei and Theodore Ezonfade, were joined as defendants.

    The court ordered that the election “should not be cancelled by the defendants or their agents, cronies, pending the determination of the motion for interlocutory injunction.”

     

     

  • Ijaw youths protest

    Ijaw youths protest

    Protests yesterday rocked Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, after the election of the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) ended in a controversy.

    Aggrieved youths stormed the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Azikoro Road to protest what they described as imposition of candidates by the government.

    Others moved to the streets and molested commuters and residents, as armed policemen battled to control them.

    The angry youngsters alleged that the elections were manipulated and rigged to the advantage of the government candidates.