...sends powerful message to Ijaw nation, N’Delta Govs

…speaks on Rivers politics, Warri delineation

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has called on the Federal Government to declare May 16 of every year public holiday as a way of honouring Maj. Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro, who, according to the apex body of Ijaw youth, “fought and died for the indivisibility of Nigeria as a nation.”

The IYC also suggested that the Port Harcourt International Airport and other Federal Government institutions either in Abuja or any other city outside the Niger Delta be named after Boro as a way of “immortalising him for his struggles not to go in vain.”

During a press conference in Warri to mark the 57th celebration of the late the hero with the theme, ‘Maj Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro, Celebrating the Legacy, Rekindling the Struggle,‘ IYC spokesman, Amb. Princewill Yerin Binebai, lamented that despite Boro’s sacrifices during the civil war, he remains the unsung champions of the Nigerian civil war.

Binebai said: “In 1966, Boro established the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, an armed group primarily composed of members of the Ijaw ethnic group, and proclaimed the Niger Delta Republic on the 23rd of February 1966. This declaration led to a conflict with federal forces, lasting twelve days before Boro and his associates were apprehended and charged with treason. They were later granted amnesty by the federal government under General Yakubu Gowon in May 1967, shortly before the Nigerian Civil War.

READ ALSO: IYC Condemns Delta Poly Final Year Student Killing, Tasks Police On Impartial Investigation

“However, Boro, after being released from prison by the Federal Government of Nigeria, was one of the unsung champions of the Nigerian civil war; he fought and died for the indivisibility of Nigeria as a nation. He died while fighting and defending our dear nation from disintegration.

“Considering the sacrifices of Boro, it is our call on the Federal Government of Nigeria that it is now time for the Federal Government of Nigeria to honour Boro as a young man who laid down his life for the nation at the age of 29 years. The Federal Government should do well by declaring May 16th every year as a public holiday to honour the late Maj. Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro.

“The IYC is suggesting that the Port Harcourt International Airport be named after Boro, Federal Government Institutions either in Abuja be named after him, it could be major roads within and outside the Niger Delta or other critical facilities in order to immortalise him for his struggles not to go in vain.”

The IYC spokesman, while commending the Bayelsa State Government for the efforts put in place to immortalise Boro, urged Rivers State Government to follow suit, stressing that “Rivers State was also created to compensate the late Ijaw hero, late Maj. Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro.”

READ ALSO: IYC: Opudu, Otuaro To Lead Dignitaries At 57th Boro Day Celebration In Western Zone

– Message to the Ijaw Nation –

Binebai, who appealed to Ijaw people to be united regardless of the state they fall under, urged them to support political office holders from the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

He appealed: “Dear sons and daughters of Ijaw nation, as we deeply reflect on what Boro fought and died for, let us always protect ourselves as Ijaw people in the Nigerian State; till date, we are still struggling to have a sense of belonging in the Nigerian State as major stakeholders that we should be.

“We are one united big family. What binds us together is greater than what can divide us. Our strength lies in our unity.”

He continued: “Let us give support to our leaders holding positions in the Government; we must learn from others. Hardly have we seen youths from other ethnic groups attacking their leaders holding positions in the Government publicly despite their inefficiencies.

“We must not paint a picture that our people occupying political offices are not doing well when, in the real sense, they are the best in the current Tinubu-led government.”

READ ALSO: IYC Commends INEC For Delineation Of Warri Fed. Constituency, Warns Saboteurs To Steer Clear

On Warri Federal Constituency delineation controversy, the IYC spokesman called on INEC to “quickly work with the stakeholders in Warri Federal Constituency with a view to quickly implementing their draft report on the wards’ delineation.

“INEC must know that we are no longer going back to the previous fraudulent and illegal arrangement in Warri Federal Constituency.

“The DSS and the federal government must bring to justice the criminal elements who try to smuggle arms into Delta State to cause trouble.

“The federal government and its security agencies must not continue to remain silent on this life-threatening matter.”

Speaking on Rivers and its politics, the IYC spokesman appealed to Tinubu to “reconsider and review the suspension of the Rivers State Governor with a view to lifting the suspension before the six months for Fubara to return back to the Government House.”

He commended President Bola Tinubu for signing the Nigeria Maritime University, (NMU) Okerenkoko, Delta State, Bill into law, and other good works he has done in the Niger Delta and to Ijaw sons and Delta.