Gov Diri Moves To End IYC Leadership Rift

Photo ; L-R: Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, monarch of Elem-Kalabari Kingdom, King Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, and President, Ijaw Youth Council, Comrade Jonathan Lokpobiri, during a reconciliation meeting of IYC leaders and stakeholders at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, on Tuesday

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Tuesday, took steps to end the protracted factional leadership crisis in the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).

At a meeting with both factions and other stakeholders at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, Governor Diri advised the factional leaders, Jonathan Lokpobiri and Dr. Theophilus Alaye, to jettison their differences and work together in the larger interest of the Ijaw nation.

He also urged them to embrace peace in order to conduct a united elective convention that would produce a leader that is acceptable to the IYC and the ethnic nationality.

The Bayelsa governor enjoined the ethnic nationality’s foremost youth organisation to conduct its election in accordance with its constitution, stressing the need to elect a leader that had the interest of the Ijaw nation at heart.

Senator Diri, who invited Lokpobiri and Alaye to the podium, urged them to sheathe their swords and publicly shake hands, noting that beyond fame and fortune, what mattered most were the virtues of love, brotherlineess, peace and unity of the Ijaw people.

He advised the youth leaders to learn from the recent crisis that rocked the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and toe the path of peace for the sake of unity.

He said: “Let us not pretend. As Ijaws, we are not where we want to be but we have come a long way. Ijaw youths will be one and they will be united. We might be looking for fame and fortune but there is something that stands beyond that, which is love and unity.

“Lokpobiri and Alaye should work together and ensure that the IYC election does not go the way of he INC election. But they should learn from their mistakes and conduct a peaceful, free, fair and transparent election.

“As usual, l am not imposing any candidate. We need someone who has the interest of Ijaw nation at heart and that will fly our flag. We cannot be divided at this time. We can no longer have a factional leadership in the IYC.”

In his remarks, the IYC President, Comrade Jonathan Lokpobiri, emphasized the need for patriotism and acknowledged that the collective interest of the Ijaw nation should be paramount rather than personal considerations.

Pioneer IYC President and a former Bayelsa State Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, also admonished Ijaw youths to toe the path of peace, stating that they cannot afford to be embroiled in conflicts.

Lending his voice, another former president and the monarch of Elem-Kalabari Kingdom, King Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, stated that the interest of the Ijaw nation was bigger than individual interests and urged all to come together in the struggle for a better deal for the Ijaw nation.

“The unity we seek and desire is greater than all of us. We need to come together and confront those oppressing us.

Today, we have a Governor of Bayelsa State that was part of the INC. He is the Governor-General of the Ijaw nation and by virtue of his position, he carries the burden of spearheading the struggle for all Ijaws.”

Two other former presidents, Dr. Chris Ekiyor and Dr. Oyeinfie Jonjon, equally sued for peace, advising both leaders to sheathe their swords, noting that they cannot support Ijaws in other states if they were divided.

Similarly, a foremost leader of the youths during the formative years of the IYC, Elder Timi Ogoriba, in his remarks, stressed the need for the body to be a vibrant platform to advance the cause of the Ijaw people for a better future.

In a vote of thanks, former IYC spokesman and former Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta/Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Kingsley Kuku, expressed appreciation to the various leaders present in order to resolve the leadership tussle, and particularly lauded Governor Diri for his reconciliatory efforts.