by Theophilus Keme
It is a common thing to see political parties and councils factions when the decision of an election or succession is near -irrespective of the position been juicy or not, but when repetition of this becomes a pattern it becomes a point of concern to the sanity of the people.
Whilst this is relative in the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC); for since it’s creation in 1998, succession crisis and the crown of who should stand as the Head has been a major thing of serious outcry for the ijaw people. These has made many within and outside the ijaw community to rest on the presumptive that perhaps the reason for the orthodox faction witness every time- from onset, at the dire end of every election is base of the assumed benefits that the position of an IYC leader attracts.
ijaw youth council (IYC) succession isn’t different from others, as from News headlines and the various communities we all as Nigerians have privileged to live, perhaps may all have witness the uneasiness felt by the indigenes and stakeholders in these communities or councils in the near of elections. This goes as far to local government chairmanship elections.
This however in the IYC, what I may tag laughable at this point, is the allegations which are made between stakeholders on national tv and the calling out of names on national tv to whom by their position of offices and role as members in the council has allegedly enjoyed and the address of siphoning money which are allotted by state percentage against general members of IYC. It is commentary known that elections or the succession of a new leader is a thing of debate, but for a fellow ijaw man to be using that as a yardstick to berate why the council or Nigerians shouldn’t give their support to another of his kinsmen in alleging that he is a conspirator of theft, and other despicable act is disgraceful to ijaw community and her people in general.
Ijaw youth council is a civil rights organization that was founded in 1998, to supports the interests of the Ijaw ethnic group of the Niger Delta. By support its a platform that is also a movement and a cooperative against injustice that has been suffered by the oil producing communities in the Niger delta, in the essence of promoting and recognizing the interest of the ijaw community.
This pillars of its existence inadvertently foretells that the IYC is by no means anybody’s personal office, nor what can be easily be passed by inheritance. As from time memorial the few political privilege ijaw leaders whom have had the privilege to head this council have rather accrued the attraction of the office to their personal status instead to working in concession of the aim of the betterment of the ijaw people.
The newly alleged elected Presidents of Ijaw Youths Council, this I would be most cautious, Jonathan Lokpobiri whom his election to office has once again repeated the customary nature of disagreements and factions within the IYC has really not been a good image of this Socio political body of Ijaw community. This I duly hope that the parties involved should shield swords and settle this in-house without blowing it out of proportion to get attention of national tv for it’s wrong reasons.
Jonathan Lokpobiri was elected president after defeating three other candidates in a hotly contested election with strong security.
One hundred and ten accredited delegates vote in the election, which is overseen by the acting president, Savior Olali.
After tallying all votes cast, Jonathan Lokpobiri is named the new president of the IYC, having received 47 votes to overcome his nearest competitors Benjamin Appah (15 votes) and Ebilade Ekerefe (14 votes).
Members and all stakeholders of IYC need to understand the fact that election is like football, is of a winner and a loser, and for aggrieved stakeholders of ijaw nations to fan the embers of division in the council is really disgraceful, a thing the general public should not hear that is fuming out of the ijaw youth council.
The quagmire of 2023 general election has already psychological dealt so much with Nigerians and it will be damaging that such event is threatened to repeat itself in the ijaw nation, most especially as the NECOM/ELECO has been accordingly dissolved, so it will be unconstitutional to conduct elections whatsoever.
The election of the Ijaw youth council worldwide has come and gone. And the person who the people have voted for to be the leader should be duly respected.
The 9th executive has come to stay, it is really expected that all ijaws and national stakeholders be cooperative and best support this new administration. The decision of the Ijaw nation and people is sacrosanct.
