BREAKING: Confusion as speaker of parliament, Pogonyo addresses Ijaw nation as acting IYC president – The Liberator
Omare had claimed that the committee was constituted after due consultation with various stakeholders of council across board.
The Liberator Newspaper observed that Barr. Oweilaemi and his exco is yet to say anything concerning the arrangement.
Just when permutation is ongoing along this regard, former speaker of the IYC parliament, Rt. Hon. Digimie Eldred Pogonyo has addressed Ijaw nation as the acting president of council.
According to the press statement authored by Pogonyo, he said since Omare tenure had come to an end on the 31st of March 2020, him being the acting president of council becomes automatic since he is the most highest ranking officer of council, stressing that his acting presidency was ratified by members of parliament in April 2020.
Hon. Eldred had particularly appealed to the entire Ijaw nation to give him the needed support to succeed in this trying time of council, pledging that he will work closely with the electoral committee that is already working on a peaceful transition process.
The statement reads in parts: “This is to express my profound gratitude to Ijaw Nation and especially to the revered Ijaw Youth Youth (IYC) for honoring me the onerous responsibility of piloting the affairs of council at this critical time and provide a solid ground for a peaceful election cum transition on the stipulated date as announced by the electoral committee.
“It is no longer news that the tenure of Comrade Eric Omare comes to an end on the 31st of March 2020 according to the court judgement from sagbama high court which automatically makes me acting president( ratified by parliament on 1st of April,2020) and the burden of piloting the affairs of council as the most senior and ranking officer of council being the speaker of parliament.
“I and my team want to assure Ijaw Nation that we will work closely with the electoral committee to provide a free, fair and credible election and a peaceful transition to a new government.
“On the above note I want to place the Ijaw Nation on notice that they should disregard any group of persons who may be parading themselves as committee members of council that the only recognize national officials globally are myself and my team.
“Also all known military formations, strategic partners and all known associates of council must note that there’s a change of leadership in council and should work with myself and team.
“In furtherance of the above, all divisive elements within and outside council that derives pleasure in formenting trouble which is their means of making money in council should desist from such act as myself and my team won’t tolerate such acts anymore and better stil join hands with us to build council.
“I want to also implore all stakeholders, founding fathers, past presidents, all organs and the entire Ijaw Nation to give us the needed support to provide qualitative and purposeful leadership from now till we shall hand over to a new government.
“The Ijaw Nation is also place on alert over the global epidermic known as convid19 and adhere to all known precautionary measures spelt out by the federal and various state governments especially obeying the stay at home order currently ongoing Nationwide.
“Again I, want to thank the Ijaw Nation for granting us this rare privileged of service and we promise never to breach the trust you repose on us.
“Thanks and God bless Ijaw Nation.Yours in the struggle.” Rt. Hon. Digimie Eldred Pogonyo stated.
As at the time of filling this report, this reporter tries to get in touch with Barr. Pereotubo Roland Oweilaemi to get his own reaction on the matter as he could not respond to several calls put across to his phone nor returned them.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Comr. Kennedy Olorogun, Chairman central Zone, IYC and chairman transition committee explained that Rt. Hon. Hon. Digimie Eldred Pogonyo cannot claim to be acting president of council for now.
Comr. Olorogun maintained that going by the Sagbama high court judgement, the parliament with which Eldred is talking about was inaugurated by Barr. Oweilaemi, stressing that the judgment had nulified even the parliament inaugurated by Pereotubo, arguing that due to that, he does not have the capacity to speak as a parliamentarian not to talk of speaker at this point in time.
Olorogun noted that Eldred could have waited for Oweilaemi tenure and subsequent pronouncement from him before taking such step since his parliament was inaugurated by Barr. Pereotubo as president of council during the wake of factionalization in council.
The central Zone chairman insisted that the transition committee headed by his humble self is made of other zonal chairmen as well.
All efforts geard towards reaching out to Omare in order to here his own side of the story proves abortive as he could not also respond to calls nor reply.
