The umbrella Pan-Ijaw Organization, The Ijaw National Congress (INC), says holding a Sovereign National Conference is the best way forward to Nigeria’s numerous challenges as a country
The Acting President of the INC, Chief Joshua Binamaisia, gave this indication at the 2012 World Ijaw Day celebration held on February 23rd 2012 in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State.
Chief Binamaisia who advocated the practice of true federalism for the country, said the current state of affairs where the central government controls the natural resources of the country and disburses its proceeds to states is not feasible.
He observed that the situation could truncate the development of some states as they will not have the opportunity to explore and maximize their resources, noting that the ijaws have contributed their quota in the development of the country.
He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his leadership qualities and urged all Nigerians in general and the ijaws in particular to support the present administration in the country.
On his part, the Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Seriake Dickson, announced that the state is the “New Jerusalem” of the Ijaw Nation, pointing out that government will do everything to protect the collect interest of the Ijaw People.
“Bayelsa the New Jerusalem of the Ijaw Nation. As an Homogenous ijaw state, Bayelsa is the home of all Ijaw people wherever they may reside. Bayelsa is central to the progress of the Ijaw Nation and as a government, we will mobilize the ijaws to protect our vested interest”, declared the Governor.
He thanked the founding fathers of the Ijaw Nation for their vision, saying that his government will uphold the ideals of the (INC).
The Governor also promised that the ijaw House Headquarters which is under construction in yenegoa will be completed and commissioned soon.
On human capital development, the governor promised that the government in conjunction with the INC would work out modalities in this regard, saying that all students from states of the ijaw nation would benefit from the scholarship scheme of the state government in due course irrespective of their state of origin.
Delivering a Lecture on the topic, “The Nigerian State, Resource Control and Politics of Oil”, the Acting Director, Centre for Niger Delta Studies, Dr. Ibiba S. Ibiba, started that the principles of true federalism and resource control are interwined.
Dr. Ibiba urged the people of the Ijaw Nation to capitalize on the on-going debate on Sovereign National Conference to resuscitate the demand for resource control.
The ceremony which also featured a Thanksgiving Service was attended by ijaws from all over the world, including the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
