News

IYC Vows To Confront FG Over True Federalism, Resource Control, Justice

Published

6 years ago

October 31, 2020

Editor

Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), the umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide has declared readiness to confront the Federal Government with their demands for equity, justice and resource control.

Leaders of the umbrella body while converging on Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital over the weekend expressed vexatious over the issues of true federalism, the militarisation of Niger Delta communities, gas flaring, water resource bill and restructuring.

The IYC zonal leaders, elders, past presidents and deputy presidents of the council including Dr. Chris Ekiyor, the Special Adviser to Bayelsa State Governor on Ijaw National Affairs, Onifie Jon Jon, among others, were present at the well-attened meeting chaired by the President of the IYC, Comrade Peter Igbifa.

They resolved that a final position on the issues raised at the consultative meeting would be unveiled at the end of the ongoing consultations with various ethnic groups and state governors across the Niger Delta.

Igbifa, at the end of the consultative meeting told journalists that though the council was undergoing consultations with Ijaw stakeholders, the IYC was ready to take their destinies in their hands and confront the Federal Government over contentious issues of true federalism, restructuring and the militarisation of the Ijaw communities.

Igbifa said, ”Ijaw as the 4th largest ethnic nationality in the country, we have a wide range of consultations to do. For sure, we have issued statements and taken a position that our people should take their destiny in their own hands.

“We have said the issue of resources control is key to us. God, not being mad, has gone to Zanfara State to give them gold and help them to tap their resources and sell. So, we are also preparing ourselves to take our oil in our own hands and sell our oil to make our society what it ought to be.

“And the consultation is preparing our house and putting ourselves ready for what is ahead of us. We have said several times that no life will be lost in the course of taking our destiny in our own hands. In our last meeting, I said the military should not prepare for war because with these consultations,we want to put an end to the militarisation of ijaw communities.

“The military excesses have become unbearable and under the guise of chasing oil criminals, they go around Ijaw communities and burn down homes. They run around freely in Ijaw communities and burn down houses. They have taken away the people’s rights and destroyed the ecosystems. Then they come again and chase the people.

“When you say there are criminals in Ijaw communities, you can go there and let us see the criminals. We say there should be no more burning down of Ijaw communities. You saw what the #EndSARS protesters pushed for, it was an end to brutality. So, we have suffered more than any other ethnic groups when it comes to the brute force of the military on communities.”

Also speaking, the spokesman for the IYC, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, noted that the position of Ijaw youths on various contentious issues of resource control, restructuring and many others would be a watershed for the country in the next few weeks.

He stated, “Nigeria at the moment is at the crossroads and Ijaw youths are ready to make their demands from the Federal Government. The Ijaw youths are more ready and united to confront the challenges in the next few weeks.”

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

10 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

10 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.