IIA blows hot, wants immediate reopening of NIMASA technical school in Delta
The Ijaw Interest Advocates, IIA, popularly known as the Izanzan Intellectual Camp has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently reopen the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency, NIMISA Technical College, Okoloba in Delta State.
The group made the call recently during a press briefing held at the site of the seemingly denunciated site of the technical college in Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State.
The Ijaw Interest Advocates, IIA, one of the leading Ijaw sociocultural group had revealed that the school had been allegedly suspended for over four years without any acceptable reason on the part of the government.
The group had particularly described the closure of the school as an injustice and hatred towards the Ijaw people of Niger Delta, vowing that they will neither sleep nor relent in seeing the reopening of the school.
The Izanzan intellectual camp had challenged NIMISA to come out clear on the reasons why the school has been closed down for over four years now, stressing that Nigeria should not be runed and operated like banana republic where law and order does not exist.
According to the speech circulated to newsmen during the press briefing, signed by the national coordinator of IIA, Amb. Salaco Yerinmene Jr, the group had promised to advance calls for the reopening of the school using every available means.
IIA had also accused the federal government of Nigeria of frustrating development that is meant for the Ijaw people in the Niger Delta region.
The statement had further called on Ijaw political leaders to rise up and resist the allege oppression meted out on the Ijaw people in Delta state.
The statement reads in part: “I bring to you greetings from the oppressed people living in the creeks of the Niger Delta. It is with a bleeding heart that I stand here today on behalf of the Ijaw Interest Advocates (IIA) to present this press statement on the unwarranted suspension of educational and management activities in the NIMASA Technical College, Okoloba, Delta State.
“As we all know, the NIMASA Technical College, Okoloba is one of the legacies of the federal administration led by our father/son, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) under the leadership of our proud father/son Mr. Patrick Akpobulokemi. The vision behind the establishment of the NIMASA Technical College is to reawaken educational consciousness in the Niger Delta as well as to foster the realization of the dreams of promising youths of the region vis-a-vis ascertaining productive careers in the maritime sector.
“The establishment of this institution brought about a sigh of relief as well as brought technical education closer to the people of the creeks. Unfortunately, academic activities have been halted for over four (4) years shattering the dreams of promising youths who were already admitted as well as those who are yet to be admitted. We make bold to state it clearly, I repeat for the sake of emphasis, we make it bold to state it clearly that up till this very moment, there is no justifiable reason for the closure of this institution. The motive behind the closure is mere hatred for the people of the Ijaw nation.
“At this point, we would like to ask the federal government a few questions. How many Universities in the Northeast that are notorious for insecurity and incessant insurgent attacks have been closed down? How many Universities in other parts of the country known for moral depravity have been closed down? Why is the federal government bent on frustrating any educational and developmental opportunity that comes to the Southern part of the country? Is the government angered by the job opportunities the running of the school will create for the people of the region?
“We have over the time raised our voices against the total oppression meted on the Ijaw people and we shall continue to do so until the very day we leave this world. We have no better cause other than to fight for our people and we are ready to lay down our lives for this struggle. We are hereby calling on the Federal Government and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to come out clear and provide the reasons for which it has closed down the NIMASA Tecnical College, Okoloba Delta State. We are by these press statement giving advance notice to the Federal Government that upon failure to reopen this institution immediately, we shall be compelled to take all necessary steps within the ambit of the law to ensure that the school resume academic activities.
“We also use this medium to call on all representatives of the Ijaw nation at the state and federal level to wake up and use their powers and influences to ensure that this institution is reopened and funded sufficiently. We want to let you know that our eyes are watching you keenly and at the appropraite time we shall call upon you all to account for your stewardship. We also by this statement express our profound appreciation to our intellectual lieutenants for the show of solidarity amidst persecution. We shall not fail you. We shall keep on the struggle, for it is our cause.”
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