Worried by the current state of the Nigerian Nation, leaders and elders of the Ijaw Nation recently held a consultative meeting in Warri, Delta State to brainstorm on the way forward.
The meeting presided over by Ijaw National Leader, Chief (Dr) Edwin Clark, was attended by prominent Ijaw elders and leaders of thought including Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson; Delta State Deputy Governor, Barr. Kinsgley Otuaro; Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Barr. Boma Obuoforibo; Pioneer President of INC, Prof C A Dime, His Majesty, Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu, His Royal Majesty King Joseph Timiyan, Pere of Ogulagha Kingdom; retired Justice of Supreme Court, Hon Justice Francis F Tabai, HRH. Alabo Prof. Dagogo Fubara, Sir Ngo Martyns Yellowe, Former Rivers Deputy Governor, Sir Gabriel Toby; General Secretary of INC, Barr (Dr) Bibobra Bello Orubebe, among others.
In a communiqué issued at the end of their deliberations and signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the INC, Mr. Miebaka Tamunomiebi, the Ijaws called for the immediate restructuring of the Nigerian nation along the lines of fiscal federalism, noting that this is the panacea for sustainable development.
They passed a vote of confidence on the Barr. Boma Obuoforibo leadership of the INC.
The leaders and elders observed the prevailing trend of executive/legislature face-off impacting negatively on governance and called on both arms to work in harmony in the interest of the nation.
While noting the “non inclusive policies of the present administration which have led to the alienation of some components of the Federation, particularly the Ijaw Nation from the mainstream of national development, they called on President Buhari to redress this ugly state of affairs.
They noted the impact of the activities of various militant groups in the Niger Delta on the national economy with concomitant devastation of the ecosystem of the region and called on all the various agitating groups to cease any further attack on crude oil and gas facilities and embrace the offer of dialogue by the Federal Government.
The meeting further called on the Federal Government, as a demonstration of sincerity of its commitment to dialogue, to immediately withdraw the military from all occupied Ijaw Communities, particularly Gbaramatu Kingdom.
The Ijaw leaders and elders stated that in spite of the fact that the Ijaw territory is the most impacted by the devastation arising from the conflict, the leadership of the Ijaw nation has not been reached by the Federal Government.
While condemning moves to scrap the Nigeria Maritime University approved by the preceding Federal Government to be sited at Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, they demanded its immediate take-off.
