Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide
Press Statement

06/08/2023

IYC Kicks Against Continuous Underdevelopment, Deprivation Of Ijaws In Akwa Ibom

The 9th National Executive Council (NEC) of the revered Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide led by Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, together with other critical stakeholders of council in a familiarisation visit to His Royal Majesty, UBON RT.Hon. Elder Harry John Etetor (Iiile lX) Paramount Ruler, Eastern Obolo LGA, Akwa Ibom State on Monday 31st of July 2023 had a fruitful deliberation with His Royal Majesty and the good Ijaw people of Eastern Obolo in Akwa Ibom State.
After meeting with the Ijaw people in Eastern Obolo, council resolves as follows:
1 That henceforth, the Akwa Ibom State Government headed by His Excellency, Umo Eno should begin to treat the Ijaw people in Akwa Ibom as humans that should be given proper attention with particular regard to their development as citizens of Akwa Ibom State.
2 That council will always maintain peace where necessary but will not continue to maintain peace without justice. The Ijaws in Akwa Ibom State have faced too many attacks from the Government and their brothers in Akwa Ibom. This must stop henceforth.
3 The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide will not accept any attempt from the Akwa Ibom State Government to annex the ancestral lands of the Ijaw people in Eastern Obolo.
4 Council is sounding it clear that the Ijaws in Akwa Ibom State are not strangers and as a people that are contributing politically and economically, the issue of their wellbeing should not be a problem to the Govement. They should be treated fairly.
5 That the Government of Akwa Ibom State in collaboration with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) should quickly activate plans to begin the construction of the Eastern Obolo road project that is now a death trap to the Ijaw people.
6 That an injustice to any Ijaw people anywhere is an injustice to all Ijaws everywhere in the world.
7 However, council reiterates the fact that the Ijaws in Eastern Obolo are endowed with God given natural resources as they are hosting over five (5) Multinational Oil Companies, therefore, the Akwa Ibom State Government should know that the Ijaws are the economic backbone of the state and also contributing economically to the coffers of the country.
8 It should be noted across Nigeria that even though the Ijaws are bulkernized into several states within the Niger Delta region as minorities, the Ijaws will always stand together to fight against any perceived injustice, deprivation and underdevelopment. The Ijaws in any state as perceived minorities are never alone.
Signed for Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide
Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill
Spokesman.