Violence At IYC Election Shameful – Nengi James

Saddened by the killings that characterised the Eastern Zonal election of the Ijaw Youths Council IYC, on Saturday, a founding member of the IYC, His Highness, Se-Alabo Nengi James, has vehemently condemned the violence during the election.

Nengi described the shooting, fighting with machetes, destruction of vehicles and the killing of about three youths during the election which took place at Abuloma, Rivers State, as shameful.

Reiterating the vision behind the formation of the youth group, the Ijaw leader explained that the IYC was not found to be used as a platform to kill one and another, but to achieve the common interest, desires and needs of the Ijaw Nation.

According to him, IYC was found to protect and defend Ijaw territories and create peaceful environment to attract businesses to Ijaw communities.

He said it was also to respect Ijaw core cultural values and native tradition as tools for making Ijaw Nation great in the comity of nations.

In his words “Kaiama declaration was pronounced on Friday, 11th December, 1998 as about 6:20 pm and the name Ijaw Youth Council IYC was adopted as umbrella body of Ijaw Youth and to use the aforesaid name to pilot the instrument of the declaration done in Kaiama Town.

“A collegiate leadership of selected members were set up in Bomadi, Delta State at a day after the Kaiama declaration to oversee the affairs of the IYC and there after the Felix Tuodolo led first elected IYC leadership emerged in Abonnema Town in Rivers State in 1999. Where were they that are killing themselves?” James queried.

While expressing regret over the incident, James emphasized that “we did not found IYC to be used as a platform to kill one and another but to use IYC to achieve the common interest, desires and needs of the Ijaw nation and to protect and defend Ijaw territories and create peaceful environment to attract businesses to Ijaw communities and to respect Ijaw core cultural values and native tradition as tools for making Ijaw Nation great in the comity of nations.”

Last weekend, some youths were killed and others severely injured following the violence that occurred, reportedly because some candidates refused to step down for major contenders.

The state Police Public Relations officer, Grace Iringe-Koko who confirmed the incident described it as senseless, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, had given marching orders to track down the perpetrators and bring them to face the full wrath of the law.