Niger Delta

Choosing The 8th Executes Of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide: A Task Beyond Popular Sentiment

Published

3 years ago

April 6, 2020

Editor

By Godswill Doubra WURUYAI

2. Greetings to you all leaders, comrades, delegates and decision makers of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, trust this letter meets you at the comfort of your homes, observing precautionary measures taking to stall the spread of the scourge of the rising global pandemic called Corona Virus also known as Covid 19, which has in recent times stole world peace, desecrated human dignity and has shaped all human activities which include the activities of the IYC. I hope and pray that this plague is defeated by the efforts of our brave medical professionals across the world, who are sleeplessly working day and night in order to keep us safe and healthy. God help, soon.

3. I write to humbly crave your indulgence as deciders of the fate of any aspirant vying for any office in the forthcoming national elections to judge and choose to support candidate(s) not by his or her size, or money he or she has to throw around, nor by relationship built over the years but by the content of what he or she has to contribute to the growth and development of the IYC as we are in difficult times in the cause of the history of our revered institution. This is important because, whoever you choose to man any office in Council has a ripple effect on what the institution will turn out to become in the shortest of its history moving forward as attitude of desperation, unguided appetite and internal avoidable contentions among executive members will make matters worse for the growth and survival of the IYC you gave up everything to build. Simply put, the IYC of your dream will only be possible when you elect people who see themselves as team players in a whole and will be disciplined enough to actively work within provisions of the constitutional powers accrued to their office and be innovative, creative and practical enough in that respect.

Comrade Godswill Doubra Wuruyai, vying for the position of national secretary, Ijaw Youth Council, worldwide

4. Leaders, comrades, delegates and decision makers of Council, I implore you to bear in mind that for IYC to survive, grow and develop to attain the great standard you admire, the onus lies on you to go beyond all popular sentiments, propaganda and hate speeches to handover Council’s leadership to brave men and women who have the guts to serve innovatively, practically and decisively with the people and the institution as their primary concern, creating a fertile economic, social and political spaces for Ijaw people in Nigeria and diaspora to thrive. Leaders, comrades, delegates and decision makers of Council, the burden on you demands tactful thinking devoid of emotionally motivated actions to help you handover the leadership of Council not just to compensate long existing friendship or clannish affinity but to people with capacity, intellectual prowess and practical skills requisite to efficiently man the office they vy for.

5. Compatriots, remember Ijaw is one and we all must in our little capacities continue to exhibit characters that will embolden our unity not division. This is why even as an aspirant contesting for the office of the National Secretary, I have strongly advised my teaming supporters and media group against hate speeches and gutter words capable of causing injury to any candidate contesting same office with me as I will not leverage on lies, propaganda and hate speeches against fellow contestants in a bid to discrediting them before the world just to make cheap points. So far, I and my teaming supporters have kept our campaign issue based and we are bent on maintaining same till the end of the electioneering process. This is important because it will help to avoid pre-election and post-election crisis and it serves as an approach that deeply acknowledge stakeholders efforts in ensuring peace in Council.

Godswill Doubra WURUYAI, aspirant, National Secretary, Ijaw Youth Council worldwide

6. It is in similar vein I implore you all; leaders, comrades, delegates and decision makers of Council to reject any aspirant who device such wicked, desperate and slanderous means of campaign against a fellow candidate just to discredit same before you in order to achieve target as this approach is not good for the new IYC of unity and progress you are sacrificing so much to achieve.

7. Compatriots, good servanthood which is exactly the burden placed on good leadership lies not in size and physical looks of a person. Rather, it is a matter of discipline, bravery and sacrifice. If size was what informed good leadership prowess, Major Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro in whom you and I source inspiration from, would not have being counted among the heroes of Ijaw Nation as there were more aged and physically built men in Ijaw land in his time.

8. Compatriots, this is what I implore you to pay more attention to. In the forthcoming IYC National elections, I appeal that let your decision on who to support and vote be tailored around contents as it is the only means through which our revered institution can come out strong to favourably compete among its comity of institutions across the globe and fully achieve its two core narratives—Resource Control and Self-Determination. The task before you demands you to ensure that the team you put your directives and thumbs should be those deeply interested in peace-building within Council in order to consolidate on efforts of stakeholders and embrace all and sundry in moving Ijaw Nation forward.

9. In conclusion, Compatriots of IYC, when elected by you, whilst my constitutional accrued duties as clearly enumerated in Section 1(3) of the IYC Constitution remain paramount to me and serves as the basis for my innovations and practical inputs to the overall improvement of Council activities locally and internationally as expected, I humbly appeal to your good conscience to support me as I am willing if need be to bring to bear my professional expertise on conflict management and peace-building in order to ensure that disputes within the Executives and Council in general are timely managed and resolved amicably.

Yours Sincerely,

Comr. Godswill Doubra WURUYAI,
Former Clan Chairman, IYC Gbaramatu.
National Secretary Aspirant, IYC Worldwide.
6/4/2020.

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Headline

Ijaw Thanksgiving Day: CAN Prays For Development Of Ijaw Land, N-Delta

Published

2 years ago

January 9, 2022

Kenny

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has fervently prayed for progress and development to thrive in Ijaw land and the Niger Delta region to alleviate extreme poverty and underdevelopment in the oil-rich region.

The Christian body offered the prayers at the occasion of the 25th Ijaw Day of Thanksgiving, yesterday at Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State.

Chairman of CAN, Bomadi Local Government Chapter, Apt. (Dr) Liberty Usiayo, in his remark said the essence of the annual thanksgiving was to show appreciation to God for His love and care for Ijaw ethnic nationality in all situations.

He said: “the essence of this annual thanksgiving is to appreciate God for His goodness and mercies for Ijaw nation. We’re also here praying for unity and well being of Ijaw land.

“The scripture says in Isaiah 41:21 that we should come to God with a strong reason why He should answer our prayers; our prayer is that God should do greater things for Ijaw nation.

“We’re also using this medium to appeal to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa to either give Bomadi a higher educational institution or locate faculties of the existing state institutions in the riverine area”.

However, the Christian body rededicated Ijaw land to God with a 14-point prayer list for better living standards which included completion of ongoing development projects as well as prayers against project duplication and the spirit of abandoned projects in Ijaw land among others.

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News

Ijaw Youths Apologize To Sylva Over Misunderstanding With IYC

Published

2 years ago

December 28, 2021

Kenny

By Chris Ochayi

Concerned Ijaw youths residing in Abuja, the nation’s capital, have tendered an unreserved apology to the Minister for State Petroleum Resources, Chief Dr. Timipre Silva and his Chief Security Officer Mr. Muhammed Salisu Abdullah for the unplanned altercation with the IYC Abuja Chapter last week.

The group while calling for calm and tranquility in a statement, Tuesday by Taritimi Okoye urged members of IYC Abuja Chapter, the NPF/D S.S, attached to the minister to bask in spirit of the yuletide season to forgive each other and embrace peace.

According to the statement, “ The concerned IJAW youths residing in Abuja, would like to seize this medium to apologies to the entire family members of his Excellency, Chief. Dr. Timipre Sylva, the Honorable Minister for State Petroleum Resources and his Chief Security Officer, Mr Muhammed Salisu Abdullahi for the negatives incidents which occurred last week.

“In the spirit of the Yuletide season, we also use this medium to urge and appeal to injured IYC members and the NPF/D.S.S attached to the minister to forgive each other and embrace peace.

“While, there has been claims in the media as published on 24/ 12/ 2021 by the Ijaw youths council leadership headed by Mr Chief Diplomat Adam Ogomugu Marbo that Mr. Muhammad S. Abdullah who is the Chief Security Officer the minister, was the person who gave the order that led to violence and destruction of properties which occurred at the minister residence on the 21 / 12/ 2021.

“Besides that, we want to equivocally state here that the security operatives on duty on that faithful day, was only carrying out their official duty which is to protect lives and properties of Nigerians and our leader at their respective residence.

“ It is worthy to note, that the manner in which the IYC used it’s bus to barricade the minister’s gate was quite uncalled for and indeed provoking, the worst is that there wasn’t any known prior confrontations or grievances.

“However, because this is not a good conduct as such, it is therefore expected, that all well meaning Niger Deltans, the IYC leadership and Ijaws living both at home and abroad would and should speak against it.

“Generally, this incidents has brought a lot pains to the families of H/E Chief Timipre Silva and his C.S.O, and Injured N.P.F/ D.S.S on that day, as well as the IYC Abuja chapter members who got injured during their invading to the Minister residence, So it won’t be a nice action to make a fuss and categorize this issue as a political issue.

“In the light of the above, we are appealing and also calling on all parties involved to embrace peace and further restrain from all future planned attacks on the Mohammed and the Minister’s image; because the CSO, was only doing his job to protect Nigerians living in the neighborhood and working for the minister.

“Any further attempt to rubbish the image and career of Mr. Abdullahi, a very charismatic Nigerian Police Officer, who has diligently served the nation would be tantamount to amounting more pain for the minister.

“We therefore urge all parties to embrace a peaceful approach to resolve these sad incidents in other to heal wounds and engender prosperity for all Nigerians, “it added.

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NDDC: Group Joins Force With Tompolo, Vows To Crumble Nation’s Economy If…

Published

2 years ago

June 2, 2021

Editor

As the 7-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government by ex-Niger Delta warlord, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo to inaugurate board for the NDDC counts to it expiration, group known as Niger Delta Volunteers for Good Governance (NDVGG) has vowed to join force with the ex-militant leader to crumble the nation’s economy should the government fail.

Tompolo had last Sunday issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to inaugurate a substantive board for the NDDC, vowing that failure to do so would lead to the nation’s economy particularly in the Niger Delta crumbled.

President of the group, Comrade Ben Bowei aka Lord Major One of the Niger Delta who disclosed this to Info Daily said after exhausting all the available sources for consultations, the group has no option but to join force with other group particularly the well respected ex-militant leader in demanding for justice.

According to the former national treasurer, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide, the decision becomes necessary taking into consideration the injustice meted on the Niger Delta people particularly Edo State.

“We have come to the conclusion that after the 7-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government by our leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo elapses, we are going to crumble all economic activities particularly oil exploration in the entire Niger Delta region.

“We have vowed to shut down all facilities which will crumble the economy of the nation unless the Federal Government do the needful by correcting the injustice meted on the people of the Niger Delta.

“Enough of this injustice done to us in our region. We will never accept that, and I mean it! A single individual cannot take a whole region made up of millions of people for granted. We are demanding that a substantive board for the NDDC be inaugurated else, the government will see our other side. We are not joking. Immediately after the 7-day ultimatum elapses, we are going to strike,” he vowed.

Comrade Bowei, who happens to be Secretary-General, Edo Restoration Movement, also vowed to take over the East-west road and NDDC office in Benin should the Federal Government fails to set up the board.

Camrade Ben Bowei aka Lord Major One of Niger Delta, President, Niger Delta Volunteers for Good Governance.

He added that the Act that established the NDDC does not recognise sole administrator as obtainable presently hence it is an aberration.

Comrade Ben Bowei, who doubles as the Secretary-General, Edo Restoration Movement, also vowed to take over the East-west road and NDDC office in Benin should the Federal Government fails to set up the board.

Recall that Comrade Bowei and his Edo Restoration Movement, led by its president Comrade Honesty Agingbatse had some months ago protested against the aberration in the NDDC where he demanded that a substantive board be set up for the NDDC as required by the Act.

He added then that the group decided to take over the NDDC office in Benin because of marginalisation of Edo State and the Niger Delta in general.

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