September 10, (THEWILL) – The Ijaw Patriotic Movement, (IPM) has inaugurated its pioneer executive members in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, with an avowed pledge to evolve policies and programmes aimed at tackling the devastating ecological challenges facing Ijaw land headlong.
The matron of IPM, Mrs Irene Digitemie Opuene, who spoke as a special guest of honour at the inauguration ceremony, noted that Ijaw land is bedevilled with a lot of ecological problems owing largely to its coastal and riverine nature, emphasising that this has made flooding of Ijaw lands a common sight, particularly during the raining seasons.
She further opined that the situation is increasingly worrisome and all patriotic Ijaw sons and daughters must come together to proffer lasting solutions to the issue, adding that erosion has eaten deep into almost every part of Ijaw land and it is presently threatening the socio-economic wellbeing and harmonious co-existence of Ijaws, especially at the grassroots level.
She, however, urged members of IPM to rekindle their commitment to the new executive members by making themselves available whenever the need arises, stressing that the emergence of the body should be seen as a calculated attempt to compliment the roles being played by other existing bodies like the Ijaw National Congress, (INC), the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and the Movement For The Sovereignty Of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality (MOSIEND).
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Archbishop Steven Overy (JP), who represented His Royal Majesty, King Godspower Oporomo, the King of Kerebiri Kingdom encouraged the newly inaugurated executives of IPM to form a formidable synergy that can stand the test of time, advising them to put in their best so as to accomplish their vision for Ijaw nation.
Archbishop Steven equally tasked every member of IPM to support the aims and aspirations of the new executive members, noting that this is the surest way to inspire them to contribute their quota to the overall socio-economic development of Ijaw nation.
The clergy admonished them never to be dismayed when challenges confront them in the course of discharging thier duties but should rather be resolute and determined to surmount any challenge, noting that every member of IPM should imbibe the spirit of togetherness as it is the only way they can succeed in thier respective assignments.
In his inaugural address, the President of IPM, Comrade Mislaw Genren, opined that Ijaws all over the country have divergent cultures, values, heritages and traditions, reiterating that the vision of IPM is to evolve policies that would bring all Ijaws together under one specific umbrella by canvassing for a central King, common language, the celebration of Ijaw national day and the routing for Ijaw traditional rulers to be included in the payroll of the Federal Government to enable them move round all Ijaw speaking states and campaign for the unity and harmonious co-existence of Ijaws.
The inagurated executives members include the National President, National Vice President, the General Secretary, National Women Leader, Publicity Secretary, National Financial Secretary, National Treasurer, National Legal Adviser , Organizing Secretary, Director Of Mobilisation, Director Of Welfare, Provost and Director Of Administration.
Others are the Eastern, Western and Central Zone Chairmen of the body.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
