December 10, (THEWILL) – The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has rolled out a 3-day programme of activities to celebrate the 25 years of the Kaiama Declaration and the foundation of IYC.
The New Spokesman of the Council, Ambassador Binebai Yerin Princewill, made the disclosure while addressing a press conference at the Light Newspapers Communications Complex along Punch Road in Yenagoa.
Flanked by Timipre Eziama, the immediate past IYC Eleco PRO; Hon. Paul Ebikeseiye, former councillor and deputy leader of Sagbama Local Government; and Comrade Ebolo Samuel, Chairman of the IYC Clan Chairman Forum, the Spokesman noted that the Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri (Snr.) led 9th NEC is grateful to the Ijaw nation for voting them into office to provide leadership and assured the people of their commitment to offer effective, purposeful and responsive leadership to the Ijaw Nation and the Niger Delta region while promising that the 9th NEC will strive to deliver on its campaign promises.
According to Princewill, day 1, which is Saturday, December 9, 2023, witnessed the foundation laying ceremony of the Ijaw Youth Council Global Secretariat in Yenagoa, describing it as unprecedented in the annals of the Council.
He said IYC has gone a step further by taking issues facing the Ijaw people to the global arena as the 9th NEC took the bold initiative to sponsor people to Ghana, Kenya and Dubai to attend the Global Climate and Plastic Pollution Conference that has affected our environment adversely.
Other activities, according to the IYC Spokesman, include the laying of wreaths on the tomb of fallen heroes at the Ijaw Heroes Park in Yenagoa and Kaiama.
He said on Day 2, December 10, 2023, there will be a thanksgiving service, public lecture, launching of the IYC database and Award Night at Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa, while Day 3, December 11, 2023, will be the grand finale, which will hold at the OX- bow lake Pavillion and Kaiama Grammar School field with a processional match and unveiling of the late Isaac Adaka Boro Statue, spiced up with variety night and other side attractions.
He said the Kaiama declaration, which gave birth to the IYC, is very key and important to the Ijaw people, which is why it has become imperative to meet again after 25 years to review the journey so far and make informed decisions to chart the way forward.
The IYC Spokesman stated that the Kaiama Declaration was made by the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) on December 11, 1998, to aggregate the views of the Ijaw Youths on the political crisis in Nigeria and to determine ownership of mineral resources in Nigeria on the backdrop of the marginalization of the oil-bearing communities and the degradation of the environment of Ijaw land by the oil majors and the Federal Government.
According to Princewill, IYC was formed in Kaiama with the gathering of 5000 Ijaw youths, representing over 40 Ijaw clans, who chose to articulate their aspirations for the Ijaw people and demand an end to over four decades of environmental damage, degradation and underdevelopment.
He stated that the 9th NEC will build on the gains, consolidate and improve on the achievements of previous administrations of the council to achieve set goals.
He lauded the Founding Fathers of the Council and other leaders who contributed immensely to the growth and survival of the Council.
On the issue of factional leadership of the Council, he said Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri (Snr.) led IYC NEC is the only recognised council and advised those fanning the embers of crisis as those seeking attention and cheap publicity, urging them to support the Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri led IYC to move the Ijaw Nation forward.
When asked to state the gains of the Kaiama declaration and 25 years of existence of the IYC, Ambassador Princewill was bold to state that the IYC has become the voice of the Ijaw people and the Niger Delta. He said IYC agitation led to the establishment of NDDC, Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Amnesty Programme, and 13 percent derivation to oil-producing states among other gains.
On the issue of interference of state governments in IYC elections, the Spokesman explained that the IYC election is based on delegates elected from the various clans, who are empowered to vote at the main election while stating that governments, particularly Bayelsa State, the only homogeneous state of the Ijaws, has a role to play to ensure a peaceful IYC election and will not describe it as an interference.
When asked to state what plans the Council will adopt to address youth unemployment on the backdrop of Ijaw Youths being described as lazy by some political leaders and not willing to work, Ambassador Princewill said it is not a fair description of Ijaw Youths, adding that they are intelligent and hard-working. He promised that the 9th NEC would roll out skills acquisition programmes to build the capacity of youths to become self-reliant.
The IYC Spokesman noted that youths have become the backbone and voice of the Ijaw Nation and should be treated with dignity.
On the issue of non-payment of salary of workers of local governments, pensioners and non-performance of state governments and the need for IYC to address the issues, the Spokesman hinted that the IYC has no control over government officials but can only raise such issues for public and government attention. He assured that the 9th NEC of IYC will continue to fight for the equitable distribution of public resources for the benefit of all.
He enjoined Ijaws at home and the diaspora to identify with the 25 years of Kaiama Declaration and the foundation of the IYC celebration.
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