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Tag: IYC

  • IYC: Fed Govt planning to exterminate Niger Delta

    IYC: Fed Govt planning to exterminate Niger Delta

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has accused the Federal Government of exterminating Niger Delta residents.

    A statement yesterday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, by its spokesman Eric Omare, said IYC was reacting to a comment by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media Affairs, Garba Shehu.

    The presidential aide reportedly said the current negotiations on the region’s crisis, notwithstanding, the Federal Government would still attack those destroying its economic assets.

    Shehu was quoted to have threatened that agitators in the region would be given the Boko Haram treatment, if they failed to negotiate for peace.

    IYC described the comment as a reflection of Federal Government’s alleged insincerity in its peace plan for Niger Delta.

    It said: “The IYC condemns the statement and states that it is reckless and prejudicial to peaceful resolution of the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta.

    “The statement completely displays the Federal Government lack of commitment towards negotiation because there is no basis to threaten Niger Deltans with the Boko Haram treatment when discussions are ongoing and considering the fact that the circumstances of the Niger Delta are different from the Boko Haram crisis.

    “It shows that the government has made up its mind to use force against Niger Delta communities.

  • IYC: we have no link with Avengers

    IYC: we have no link with Avengers

    A faction of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide yesterday frowned at the linkage of the youth body with activities of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    A splinter group of NDA, Reform Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), named IYC President, Udengs Eradiri, among those it accused of belonging to the NDA.

    Although Eradiri denied the allegation, some members of council claimed he was no longer the president and should not drag the name of IYC into dishonourable activities.

    IYC’s Secretary-General  Bristol Emmanuel condemned the linking of the youths’ body with militancy, claiming Eradiri had since ceased to lead IYC.

    Eradiri and most members of his executive council have been at loggerheads over leadership of the council; a battle that had shifted to the court.

    But Emmanuel, who addressed reporters yesterday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, said: “We condemn any attempt to drag the name of IYC to issues relating to militancy and Avengers. The organisation has no activity that has to do with Avengers.

    Eradiri is not the president of IYC. I am the secretary-general of the IYC and the head of Administration. I am the custodian of the documents and everything belonging to the council. Eradiri is not the president.

    “He has been relieved of that office. IYC, for now, is consulting with stakeholders and discussing with relevant institutions to end the crisis in this region.

    “The IYC president remains Elvis Donkemezuo and that is the true reflection of Ijaw people and the position of the council. We are not speaking in the defence of Udengs; we are only defending the integrity of IYC.”

    Also, Donkemezuo said it was unfair to rope IYC into violent agitation of the Avengers.

    The IYC chief insisted that the council remained committed to the development of the Ijaw nation.

    He said: “We don’t want anybody to rope IYC to any issue that has not been approved by IYC. We don’t want people to associate the council to unending arms struggle.

    “For the sake of clarity, we want to state that Udengs Eradiri is no longer the president of the IYC. A court of competent jurisdiction sitting in Sagbama, Bayelsa State, has summoned him for parading himself as IYC president.

    “IYC is not Udengs Eradiri’s private estate. Therefore, we urge those who have personal or business quarrels with him not to drag the name of the council into their tussle. We distance ourselves from the Niger Delta Avengers and any splinter group from it as well as their sponsors.

    “Moreso, for the avoidance of doubt, we want the world to know that although we do not know who the NDA members are, we are confident that they are not Ijaw people and do not speak for the Ijaw or the Niger Delta Region.

    “They have identified that as a nation, we have an unresolved problem and they are trying to exploit that for their personal aggrandisement. The abject state of the Ijaw man and the Niger Delta is no longer breaking news.

    “The whole world is aware that the Niger Delta is underdeveloped despite the huge resources that have been taken from it. So, these people masking as freedom fighters are trying to cash in on this to exploit our plight as a tool to enrich themselves. Their actions do not reflect the true spirit of the Niger Delta Struggle. Our struggle in the IYC is in line with the principles of our illustrious forebears like Isaac Adaka Boro, Harold Dappa-Biriye, the Brave authors of Kaiama Declaration, Ken Saro-Wiwa among others. The character, actions and antics of the NDA and their co-travellers, like the so called RNDA do not reflect the yearnings and aspirations of our land and people. This is because they are actually impoverishing our region and degrading our environment with their mindless destruction of Oil Facilities.

    “Finally, we call on the Security Agencies to intensify efforts to fish out the real faces behind the NDA mask, just as we advise our youths to be law abiding and go about your lawful business. These are trying times, but we shall overcome with God on our side.  We must not allow profiteers to exploit our collective pains for their private gains.

    “We thank the Nigerian populace for their cooperation. IYC has nothing to do with the activities of NDA. We demand an apology for dragging the name of the council to such activities because our struggles are guided by the overall interest of the Ijaw nation.”

     

  • Wike, IYC disown Niger Delta Avengers

    Wike, IYC disown Niger Delta Avengers

    Who are the sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) militants blowing up oil installations and facilities in Niger Delta? The sponsors’ identities remained shrouded in secrecy yesterday as those linked to the group denied having anything to do with it.

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) dismissed claim that they were behind NDA.

    In a statement by his spokesman Simeon Nwakandu, Wike described his link to the group as “false media propaganda.”

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to yet another  false media propaganda  wherein it was claimed that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is one of the sponsors of the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers.  We nequivocally  deny this false report which was fabricated with the aim of diverting  attention  from the superlative  performance  of Governor Wike.

    “Any close observer of this propaganda  machine would have noticed that  all they do is concoct lies about Rivers State.  We urge all well-meaning  persons to disregard this current falsehood  credited to a faceless splinter group of NDA .

    “This falsehood may not be unconnected  to Governor  Wike’s  speech at the just-concluded conference  of the Nigerian Guild of Editors where he publicly declared that he and other stakeholders  in the state have prevented militant groups from sabotaging  oil installations as is the case elsewhere.  Not happy  with this declaration,  they  resolved to concoct another ill-conceived  report trying to mislead the people.

    ”Nigerians already know what these propagandists represent. They represent retrogression , deliberate  falsehood,  under-development and biased unprofessional  journalism.

    ”Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is a patriotic leader,  committed to the sustenance  and  improvement of the nation’s  democracy and economy.  He is a promoter of security and good governance.  He cannot be disparaged by concocted publications  from APC  media agents.”

    IYC Worldwide President Mr. Udengs Eradiri said as leader of the influential Ijaw socio-cultural group, he was against a violent approach to actualising the Niger Delta struggle.

    He said he would continue maintain his stand because of his belief that only dialogue with genuine leaders would solve the problems.

    A splinter NDA, the Reform Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) in a statement by its spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte, listed President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Governor Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and other prominent leaders from the region as NDA sponsors.

    The statement also claimed that Eradiri was speaking for the group using the pseudo-name ‘Brigadier-General’ Murdoch Agbinibo.

    But Eradiri, who spoke in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, said he was not surprised that his name was being dragged in the mud because of his position on the Niger Delta crisis.

    He accused the promoters of the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) of blackmailing him for opposing their Aaron Team.

    He said: “I have no business whatsoever with the Niger Delta Avengers. I am the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), the largest youth organisation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and not the spokesman of the Niger Delta Avengers.

    “Since the splinter group of the Niger Delta Avengers said they have broken away and repented from their old ways, I call on them to come out in the open and identify themselves openly instead of still using pseudo-names such as Cynthia Whyte to issue statements.

    “Any discerning mind would know that the said statement purportedly naming sponsors of Avengers was issued by the promoters of the Aaron 11 MEND negotiation with the federal government.

    “Their grouse against me is because I said in my recent interviews that MEND Aaron 11 team does have the mandate of the Ijaw and other Niger Delta people to negotiate with the Federal Government. They are desperate because of the lack of credibility in what they are doing”.

  • IYC seeks arrest, prosecution of impersonators

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide on Tuesday asked the police to arrest and prosecute some persons impersonating key officials of the council.

    The IYC was particularly unhappy with the activities of Elvis Donkemezuo, whom it accused of impersonating the office of the president of the council, Mr. Udengs Eradiri.

    The council said Donkemezuo allegedly produced business cards and letterheads of IYC president among other insignias of the office.

    It said Donkemezuo was going about with some misguided youths to deceive members of the public.

    The president of IYC, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, who spoke on Tuesday, claimed that Donkemezuo was visiting some oil companies operating in the Niger Delta, claiming to be the IYC president and seeking economic empowerment from the oil firms.

    Eradiri said though Donkemezuo is an Ijaw youth, he is not a member of the IYC because he has not been paying dues.

    He said: “The truth is that this young man (Elvis Donkemezuo) is going around claiming to be IYC president, and presenting himself to oil companies that he is the leader of the IYC in a bid to gain economic favour from the oil companies.

    “The public must note that this individual is an impostor, and the people moving around with him. He has business cards, letterheads, sending such specifically to companies, especially Agip, NPDC and Shell. He is going everywhere that he is IYC president.”

    He said the objectives of the youth body did not include using it as a platform to “harass” oil companies but to ensure sustainable peace in the region.

     

  • •••IYC chides Buhari

    •••IYC chides Buhari

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has hit the federal government for failing to articulate a consistent position over its plan on halting worsening insurgency in the Niger Delta region.

    IYC, while reacting to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s comment on why government had opted not to negotiate with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a group he had described as economic saboteurs, said government had been discordant on its decision.

    In a statement circulated by its spokesman, Eric Omare, the IYC recalled that other functionaries of the federal government had in recent times indicated conflicting positions as the line government was towing.

    IYC, in a tone of anger, expressed an opinion suggesting it wanted government to reach an agreement with the insurgents, advising that President Muhammadu Buhari should follow the example of those who had occupied the office before.

    “The federal government in the past week has displayed obvious inconsistencies and lack of commitment towards finding a solution to the renewed hostilities. It would be recalled recently President Buhari while meeting with some political and religious leaders pleaded with militants to give peace a chance and in another occasion said that the federal government was in the process of identifying the leaders of the different militant groups with a view to dialogue with them.

    “Also a few days ago, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Muhammadu told Nigerians that the issue of militancy would soon be a thing of the past as government was already discussing with the militants.

    “However, it shows obvious contradiction and lack of commitment for Vice President Osinbanjo to state on Friday, July 8, 2016 at Akure that the federal government is not discussing with the militants because they are economic saboteurs and not freedom fighters.

    “The IYC is constrained to ask; what is the correct position of the federal government on efforts at resolving the current hostilities in the Niger Delta? Is the federal government of Nigeria a boat without a captain for different officers of government to take different position on same issue? These contradictions clearly show that the federal government lacks any commitment towards resolving the current hostilities in the Niger Delta region.”

    It added that, “ For any federal government effort at resolving the impasse to achieve the desired result, President Buhari must give a clear direction in order to gain the confidence of the people of the Niger Delta region and for officers of his government to key in.”

     

  • Pirates kill IYC executive in Bayelsa

    Suspected pirates, operating along Brass waterways, Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, have killed an executive member of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Deiepreye Peters.

    Peters said to be an indigene of Brass and Secretary of IYC in his clan, reportedly lost his life in the pirate attack that occurred at the weekend.

    It was learnt that the gunmen ambushed and shot at the boat conveying the victim and forced its occupants to flee into the mangroves.

    It was gathered that Peters died of internal bleeding caused by the bullet wound.

    One of his friends, Sam Dogitimi, described the victim as his former colleague in Brass Local Government Area saying they fought courageously against oil bunkering in the council.

    “Unfortunately, he is gone, no thanks to the notorious sea pirates. They were ambushed by the sea-robbers on Friday, which consequently forced them to run into the Angala (mangrove).

    “Diepreye peters, aka Daddy Offor, died of internal bleeding. For how long shall the people of Brass suffer in the hands of sea pirates?” He said.

    Travelers are constantly robbed, maimed and killed by sea robbers along Brass waterways.

    “This is not the first of such attack that the people of Brass have faced. Therefore there is a need for urgent deployment of navy personnel to protect lives and properties of the Brass people,” a traveler who spoke in confidence said.

    The IYC Spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, confirmed the development and described the incident as sad and unfortunate.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Asinim Butswat, said the report of the incident had not been officially reported to the command.

  • Ijaw youths commend FG for Ogoni clean-up

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) on Saturday applauded the Federal Government for the commencement of the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on the clean-up of Ogoniland.

    The IYC made the commendation in a statement issued by its spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, in Yenagoa.

    The group also urged the federal government to extend the gesture to other Niger Delta communities adversely affected by oil and gas exploration.

    The IYC noted that the formal inauguration was a practical demonstration of political will to implement the UNEP report on Ogoni by the highest political authority.

    “Irrespective of the fact that funds have not been released for the purpose, the effort is nevertheless commendable.

    “The government is advised to immediately take concrete actions by awarding the relevant contracts and release funds for the actual clean-up to start without delay.

    “We express our strong solidarity with the Ogoni nation and salute the courage of fallen and living heroes of the Ogoni struggle such as Ken Saro-Wiwa, the Ogoni 9, Ledum Mittee and others.

    “This effort by government clearly shows that their sacrifices were not in vain and it is also the triumph of non-violence struggle.

    “We recommend the Ogoni example to other Niger Delta people and communities,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted IYC as saying in the statement.

    According to the group, the Ogoni clean-up should be used as a starting point to clean-up the entire Niger Delta region.

  • IYC backs Ogoni clean-up

    The Speaker, Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC), Mr. Nkpon Amon, has pledged the group’s readiness to partner with the Federal Government for a successful flag off of the Ogoni clean-up exercise.

    Amon made the pledge in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    He said IYC would take advantage of President Muhamadu Buhari’s visit to address the youths of the area on need to avoid politicising the UNEP Report implementation

    “We are ready to give all the necessary support to ensure that the President’s visit yields its expected dividend which would translate to a better environment in Ogoni land.

    “We shall also advise our youths against using political sentiments to disrupt the good intent of the UNEP Report implementation.

    “Ogoni is amongst the Niger Delta communities and so the UNEP Report implementation has always been part of our request to the federal government.

    “This clean-up exercise would be recorded as one of the fulfilled campaign promises of the President to the Niger Delta people and we as a body, applaud this exercise,” he said.

  • Niger Delta Avengers: Proposed peace talk splits IYC

    Niger Delta Avengers: Proposed peace talk splits IYC

    •Buhari urged to beware of Niger Delta politicians

    Efforts by the Federal Government to end militancy in Niger Delta have led to a crisis in the popular Ijaw youths’ body, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide.

    It was gathered that some people in the Presidency attempted to engage the Udengs Eradiri-led IYC to persuade the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to embrace dialogue and stop the destruction of pipelines and other oil installations in the region.

    The IYC was reportedly contacted because of the belief that the NDA, which had restricted its nefarious activities to Delta and Bayelsa states, was dominated by disgruntled Ijaw youths.

    Following its closeness to Ijaw youths, the leadership of the IYC was to be provided with logistics to move into the creeks and prevail on Avengers members to surrender their weapons.

    But it was learnt that some “powerful” politicians in the region were against engaging the IYC leadership.

    They were said to have accused its President, Eradiri, as well as most members of his council, of supporting the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The opposition against Eradiri reportedly led to the division of the council’s National Executive Committee (NEC) along political lines.

    The forces were said to be behind the circulation of a document purportedly suspending Eradiri and the council’s spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare.

    Those who signed the documents are: the National Secretary-General, Bristol-Alagbariye Emmanuel; Director of Mobilisation, Wisdom Ikuli; Legal Adviser, Ekine Egberekro; Assistant Secretary, Deinkoro George; National Women Leader, Felicia Ngeri and Financial Secretary, Kemepado Alfred.

    But Deinkoro, who is the Assistant Secretary, denied being among the signatories to the document.

    The IYC Mobile Parliament (IMP), which is saddled with sanctioning erring council members, in its statement by Omare, described the suspension document as null and void because it did not follow due process.

    An executive member of the council, who gave a background into the crisis, said some people were playing politics with the crisis in the region for their pecuniary benefits.

    The source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The Federal Government believes that Eradiri, being the President of IYC and because of his consistent character, can help in resolving the crisis.

    “But some politicians in the region had already classified him a PDP member and even refer to him as an Avenger, just to dissuade the government from engaging him. They have started politicising the crisis. That is unfortunate.”

    Contacted, Eradiri confirmed the development and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of some Niger Delta leaders around him.

    The IYC chief admitted attending a security meeting where the issues were discussed, adding that he told the conveners “the hard truth”.

    He said: “At a meeting I attended, I made it clear to security agencies that Niger Deltans, who are around the President, are the problem of President Buhari and that the President should be wary of the ‘clowns’ around him.

    “Didn’t you see? They were in a meeting, talking about the money spent on the Avengers. But the following day, they blew up installations. The same way they deceived (former President) Goodluck Jonathan that they were going to negotiate with $40 million, but were eating fat in the process.

    “These same hawks are around President Buhari. If he wants to engage, he must reach out to the stakeholders. I also told security agencies that these persons are not representing the Niger Delta.

    “You are talking to somebody who claims he is representing the region and they are blowing up pipelines. Is it not an embarrassment to the government? They are not happy that the truth is said because they have been deceiving the President all this while.”

    Hailing the President for promising to engage stakeholders in his May 29 national broadcast, Eradiri urged President Buhari to lead the resolution of the insurgency in the region.

    The IYC chief said the President should toe the paths of his predecessors, like former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Jonathan, on how they handled the Niger Delta crisis.

    He said: “But we are surprised that the President has not woken up to take the bull by the horn. We are asking him to take the driving seat because the problems of Nigeria go beyond an avenger.

    “It needs the President to take some of the decisions by himself. He needs to hear from the people and he will be amazed that people around him are not representing him well. We give him the benefit of the doubt.”

     

     

     

    Eradiri added that the IYC remained an apolitical organisation with commitment to protect and defend the Ijaw national interests.

    He said: “The IYC is an apolitical organisation but individuals have party affiliations. I have tried as much as possible to maintain an apolitical front without allowing party issues to creep into the IYC.

    “But certain individuals don’t understand the positions they hold and may want to use their parties to destabilise what the Ijaw nation is doing.

    “The IYC represents the Ijaw nation. When you come to the IYC, you drop your political toga and deal with issues that concern the Ijaw nation. There might be some political manipulations but we will do everything possible to insulate this organisation.”

     

  • Pipeline attacks: IYC cautions members against vandalism

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has expressed concern about the resurgence of militancy in the region following which it conveyed a meeting of ethnic youth groups in the region. The meeting will hold on Thursday.

    Last weekend’s attack on an NNPC gas trunk line at Ogbe-Ijoh clan in Warri South West Local Government area is believed to be a systematic spread of the attack to other Ijaw clans.

    “If you look at the trend, it started in Ogulagha, from where it spread to Gbaramatu and now it has gone to Ogbe-Ijoh. That is to tell you that it is following a plan and pattern.

    “From across the Ijaw communities, we know that they won’t stop there, but they are bound to move to the Itsekiri areas and other riverside communities,” a security source told our reporter on Sunday afternoon.

    Another source, who asked not to be named, said intelligence report tend to give credence to feelers that the attacks is aimed at frustrating the present administration.

    “Do not forget that about a week before there was a spike in the attacks, a youth leader from Gbaramatu, Chief Michael Johnny, said there was a PDP-instigated plan to frustrate the present administration.

    “In the wake of that alarm raised by the Ijaw youth, several key oil and gas installations have been crippled and they are planning to spread it to other areas,” our source, who asked not to be named stated.

    A statement by IYC Spokesperson, Mr Eric Omare said the meeting, “Which would be under the auspices of foremost Niger Delta youth organization, IYC, would review the new militant activities in the region and take a common position.”

    Omare said leading activists in the region, including Chief Bello Oboko, Ms Annkio Briggs and Mr Tony Uranta, among others are expected to grace the event.

    He said the gathering “is expected to come out with a communique on the common position of the youths of the Niger Delta region on the renewed insurgency and attacks on oil facilities.”

    Nevertheless, our findings revealed that the event which is to conclude the Adaka Boro day celebration is being viewed with distrust by a section of the tribal youth groups in the region.

    Some youth leaders who spoke with our reporter said it was an attempt to railroad the region into another avoidable crisis that would only benefit the Ijaw ethnic group, which youths are suspected to be behind the attacks.

    Leader of the South-south Liberation Movement, Comrade John Adie flayed the meeting as attempts by to widen the scope of the crisis.

    “The so-called Niger Delta agitation has become an Ijaw affair – this is visible from the beneficiaries of the amnesty programme and those empowered under the Goodluck Administration. The so-called Niger Delta response to the crisis is aimed to extending the problem to others.

    “The Ijaws are a part of the Niger Delta or Southsouth, so the IYC cannot call a meeting of the region without collaboration with other ethnic groups.

    “They should save us this stress. Those bombing the oil installations are not doing the Niger Delta people any good. What business do we have with Col Sambo Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu or Biafra?

    “What we want is good governance and development of the region but those bombing oil facilities are doing so for their pocket and their paymasters,” he added.