Rivers LGA Elections: Be Warned, Know Your Boundary, IYC Replies Arewa Youths

By Ndu Samuel 

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has replied and warned “Arewa Youths For Peaceful Coexistence ” to stay off Niger Delta Matters, stressing that the youths should know their boundary in Nigeria and must not become meddlesome interlopers on Niger Delta issues. 

This was contained in a statement signed and issued on behalf of council by Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill, Spokesman Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide,  a copy of which was sent to The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide earlier today. 

The statement reads in full below:

Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide 

Press Release 

10/10/2024

Rivers LGA Elections: IYC Reply, Warns Arewa Youths To Stay Off Niger Delta Matters

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has replied and warned “Arewa Youths For Peaceful Coexistence ” to stay off Niger Delta Matters, stressing that the youths should know their boundary in Nigeria and must not become meddlesome interlopers. 

While it is not the style of the IYC to respond to every tom, dick and harry, Council thought it as  highly imperative to respond to the Arewa Youths For Peaceful Coexistence to strictly set the records straight in order not to mislead the gullible public and those in Government with lies purely born out of hatred. A lie if not corrected can mislead people hence our response. 

Let it be known that anyone or group of persons fighting against the conduct of Local Government elections in Rivers State and Nigeria in general is an enemy of democracy, hence as true democrats we cannot keep quiet to watch our democracy wobbling without contributing to strengthen it. 

However, Council have watched with great dismay how Arewa Youths have severally meddled and poke nose on Niger Delta matters that have no bearing and connection with the North. After the conduct of the Rivers State Local Government Elections recently, Council saw how the Arewa Youths For Peaceful Coexistence addressed the press expressing dissatisfaction with the Rivers State Local Government Elections and consequently calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withhold funds meant for the Local Governments in Rivers State. 

The IYC is still wondering on the relationship between a Northern Youth group and Rivers State Elections in Niger Delta, let us not believe that these are some of the elements remote controlling and orchestrating violence in Rivers State. 

Nevertheless, while  Council strongly condemned the highly provocative assertion from the Arewa Youths For Peaceful Coexistence, let this be a note of warning from the IYC to the Arewa Youths to stop meddling into Niger Delta affairs as we don’t know how long we are going to tolerate this as a youth organisation. A word they say is enough for the wise. 

We have never seen anywhere in this Country that a serving Governor cannot conduct Local Government elections through its state electoral umpire and that, while every state Governors are conducting their Local Government  Council elections, Rivers State will become an exception in same Nigeria Governed by same constitution. This is really ridiculous and unbecoming. We are warning that nobody should push the Ijaws to the wall.

The Ijaw Youth Council is surprised that the Arewa Youths For Peaceful Coexistence and other of their offsprings are yet to make any bold statement and taking proactive steps in curtailing the insecurity that has ravaged and plagued Northern Nigeria for decades now. A group that has been mute when its own house is burning is now having the temerity to speak garbage on Rivers matter. Insecurity in the North is almost making a permanent dwelling and this is truly a worrisome development. 

Meanwhile, the IYC is advising the Arewa Youths For Peaceful Coexistence to focused their strengths and press briefings on their Northern region even though they have been paid to speak trash in Niger Delta. You people should be more bothered about your region. 

Finally, we are calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ignore and completely disregard such undemocratic statements from such unserious fellows, it is our admonition that Mr President should quickly wade into the lingering political crises in Rivers State without biase with a view of returning absolute peace back to the state. The Rivers Local Government Elections is in order, there should be no issue about it. 

Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill 

Spokesman Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide.

About The Author