IYC Releases Powerful Statement To Mark One Year Anniversary, Table Issues
Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide
Press Statement
22/07/2024
9th NEC One Year Anniversary, The Journey So Far, Achievements, Challenges, and The Way Forward
The 9th NEC under the firm and purposeful leadership of Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr was no doubt inaugurated on Saturday 22nd of July 2023 at the famous Gabriel Okara Cultural Center in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State by Ijaw Youths all over the World. Today marks exactly one year anniversary of the 9th NEC as a lot has happened within the last one year.
Since the inauguration of the 9th NEC, the activities of council in the last one year has been quite eventful, remarkable, and historic.
In line with the 9th NEC topmost agenda of sustaining and improving on the unity of Ijaw nation, upon resumption into office, the NEC under Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr embarked on a familiarisation cum consultation journey to Ijaw leaders across the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large, the consultative visits were geared towards uniting Council and Ijaw nation by giving our leaders the needed respect, honour and due recognition that they deserve for their sacrifices for a better Ijaw nation. This process took almost two months. The leaders all gave their support and blessings and anointed the 9th NEC to fearlessly address the Ijaw issues in the Nigerian State.
It was our promise to bring Council back to its glorious days by advancing the struggle through the method of internationalisation of the Ijaw struggle for resource control and self determination.this is to be achieved by maintaining closer ties with the international communities and international human right organisations. This became a reality when the 9th NEC took structures of council and council members to Accra Ghana for a Climate Change Programme anchored by Al Gore, former vice president of the United States of America. The presence of the IYC was hugely felt in Accra Ghana and the global Programme. It afforded the IYC the opportunity to register our case on Climate change before Al Gore and the global community that gathered in Ghana.
Still on the euphoria of internationalising the struggle, the IYC also went to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya on a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on plastic pollution in the Marine Environment. The entire world was in Kenya in 2023. The Council participated and used the opportunity to speak and made its impute on plastic pollution in the marine environment as it affects the Ijaw people and Niger Delta at large. The joy of participating, contributing, and making input on a legally binding document on plastic pollution in the world is surely something special.
The Ijaw Youths Council also went to Dubai to participate in COP 28 in 2023 for a Climate Change Programme that brought the entire world together in Dubai. The presence of the IYC was felt throughout the programme that was massively attended by almost all countries in the world.
Back home, while the 9th NEC has released series of press statements and have addressed several press conferences by confronting the FG, State Governments, Multinational Oil Companies and other agencies, our advocacy in negotiating a better deal for the Ijaw people have brought so much for Ijaw nation within the last one year, we will continue to speak where necessary for the liberation of our people.
In order to give Council a face-lift, the 9th NEC through the benevolence of the Bayelsa State Governor, His Excellency, Hon. Douye Diri was able to acquire plots of land to build the Global IYC Secretariat. The prototype of the global Secretariat has since been designed to cost council millions of naira, and soon, the building will commence. This will be the first time since the foundation of the Council through the Kaiama Declaration on December 11th, 1998, that an attempt of such is been made by the IYC.
The 9th NEC considering the interest of the Ijaw people felt there is need to review the Ofunama Constitution to accommodate the interest of the Ijaw people hence a constitution review committee has been constituted and funds released for them to commence their job. The committee members have visited all Zones and chapters of the council to have their reactions on the areas to be reviewed and amended in the Ofunama Constitution. The first draft is ready, undergoing council processes, and soon enough, there is going to be a constitutional convention for members of the council to debate on the articles and clauses of the constitution.
The 9th NEC particularly mobilized all structures of council in a conscious effort to celebrate the formation of the IYC 25 years of existence in December 11th 2023 via a three-day programme with different activities to celebrate council’s existence, these kind of deliberate effort geared towards reawakening the consciousness of the Ijaw people to know where we are coming from has not happened in Council for such a long time.
This is one year after, and the entire 9th NEC is united in pursuing and confronting the darkest challenges of the Ijaw people in the Nigerian State. We remain resolute in the struggle for resource control and self determination, we have remained indivisible as one big family.
Nevertheless, we are confident that the Ijaw people can attest to the fact that the 9th NEC has raised the banner of negotiating a better deal for the Ijaw people and Niger Delta at large with visible results from our advocacy and we are committed in doing more in the coming days.
The 9th NEC was able to resolve the factional Zonal leadership crisis that had prior before our emergence as 9th NEC plagued Eastern Zone by upholding Tamuno Kpokpo as the Chairman of the Zone thereby laying to rest the then lingering leadership imbroglio in Eastern Zone.
SPECIAL APPEAL
Our special appeal to leaders of Ijaw nation, Ijaw sons and daughters holding different poltical offices across the country, business tycoons and friends of Ijaw nation is that they should all support council in the building of the IYC Secretariat in Yenagoa as this project is long overdue.
The importance of building a global Secretariat for the IYC can not be overemphasised, considering the plans behind the Secretariat building, it can even serve as a financial venture for council. This is not too big for the Council to achieve both multinational and national oil companies operating in our territories should cooperate with the council in achieving this landmark project.
Considering the critical and sensitive role the IYC has been playing towards the growth and development of Nigeria, Niger Delta, Ijaw and the establishment of Niger Delta interventionist agencies, having a World class beautiful edifice as the IYC Global Secretariat is something that needs to be done to encourage the IYC and the Ijaw struggle. No one or group of person (s) can negotiate the IYC out in the Niger Delta struggle for resource control and self determination. The IYC has always been a factor and will continue to be a factor to reckon with in the polity.
This one year anniversary message will be incomplete without appreciating and acknowledging the critical role played by the leadership of the 5th Mobile Parliament of the (IYC) led by Rt. Hon. Bob Collins Igetei, Speaker of the 5th Mobile Parliament, both former and current Zonal and Chapter Chairmen, as well as all Clan structures of council. We could not have come this far without your unwavering support and commitment to the struggle for resource control and self-determination.
It is important to note that the FG, the various interventionist agencies, Niger Delta Governors, Multinational Oil Companies operating in our region as well as other agencies still have a lot of questions to answer in the proper poltical inclusion, economic distribution of resources and development of the Ijaw people and her communities.
Finally, the 9th NEC is grateful to the Lord Almighty for his mercies upon our lives on the journey so far and our gallant and vibrant Ijaw Youths who gave us the opportunity to serve Ijaw people for three years, NEC acknowledged the sacrifices made by the founding fathers of council, leaders of Ijaw nation and members of council. We will continue to advocate for a better Ijaw nation.
Signed.
Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill.
Spokesman Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide.
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