Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has charged the newly elected leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide to reposition the organisation and restore the values upon which it was founded.
Diri gave the charge on Wednesday when the new IYC President Worldwide, Dr. Doubra Collins Okotete, and members of his National Executive Council paid a courtesy visit to the governor at Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor congratulated the new executive on its emergence, describing the IYC as the umbrella body and conscience of Ijaw youths worldwide.
He urged the leadership to prioritise unity, peace and development while working with governments and other stakeholders to advance the collective interests of the Ijaw nation.
Diri said the IYC and the Ijaw National Congress (INC) were established to promote the development of the Ijaw people, secure recognition for their contributions to Nigeria and protect the resources of the Niger Delta from expropriation.
According to him, the organisations had, over time, deviated from some of the ideals that informed their establishment.
“The INC and the IYC were formed for the development of Ijaw nation and for recognition of an Ijaw man as somebody with the intellect to also contribute to development of Nigeria, and for our resources not to be expropriated,” he said.
“But as time went on, what we saw was very different. But I am happy today listening to you. In your agenda, you are prepared to bring the IYC back to what it was. I charge you to do just that.”
The governor called for a vibrant, development-oriented IYC that would engage governments and relevant agencies at the national and international levels in securing opportunities and improving the welfare of Ijaw youths.
Diri also warned the new leadership against politicising the council, picketing companies for pecuniary gains and engaging in activities capable of bringing the organisation into disrepute.
He urged the executives to build on the efforts of the immediate past leadership led by Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri and restore cherished Ijaw values, including respect for elders, parents and constituted authorities.
“We want to see a new IYC that will be re-engineered to engage with Bayelsa State government and every other government or agency nationally and internationally; an IYC that will impact on the development of our youths and also guard against the expropriation of resources of the Niger Delta region,” Diri said.
The governor further admonished Bayelsa youths to exercise restraint in their use of social media, noting that issues generated online could sometimes be handled through traditional community structures and established procedures.
He warned that negative narratives about individuals and the state could discourage investment and undermine development.
Diri said the IYC should engage governments at all levels and other stakeholders in efforts to reduce poverty and create opportunities for young people.
Responding to requests by the new IYC leadership for a utility bus and renovation of its secretariat, the governor promised that the state government would look into the requests.
Earlier, Okotete said the delegation was at Government House to formally introduce the new executive and strengthen its relationship with the Bayelsa State Government.
He commended the state government for its support to the IYC and outlined the new administration’s policy framework, including plans to establish an Ijaw youth database containing the skills and qualifications of young people.
According to him, the database would assist the council in advocating for employment and other opportunities for Ijaw youths.
Okotete also said the new leadership would focus on protecting and advancing the rights of Ijaw people across Nigeria, advocating amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act to better reflect the demands of the Niger Delta, and promoting Ijaw culture and identity.
He said the council would also seek to unite varying interests among the Ijaw people, including those across different micro-dialects.
The IYC president was accompanied by the immediate past president, Lokpobiri, and other leaders of the organisation.
