As the nation continues to contend with the aftermath of the #ENDSARS protest, the apex body of Ijaw youths worldwide, the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC), has called for calm, saying they would soon come out with a strong position on some of the issues raised during the protest and other issues affecting the Niger Delta region.
Speaking after a meeting with past leaders of the IYC and zonal representatives across the Ijaw speaking states, the group announced its readiness to confront the Federal Government over issues of true federalism, militarisation of Ijaw communities and resources control, among others.
The meeting held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, was presided over by the President of the IYC, Comrade Peter Igbifa. The group, however, said its final position on the issues would be unveiled at the end of its ongoing consultations with various ethnic groups and state governors.
Igbifa said: “As the fourth largest ethnic nationality in the country, we have a wide range of consultation to do. For sure, we have issued statements and taken a position that our people should take their destiny in their own hands. We have said the issue of resources control is key to us.
“The consultations is preparing our house and putting ourselves ready for what is ahead of us. We have said severally that no life will be lost in the course of taking our destiny in our own hands. In our last meeting, I said the military should not prepare for war because with these consultations, we want to put an end to the militarisation of Ijaw communities.” (Guardian)