Newly Inaugurated INC Executive being administered oath of allegiance on Thursday
By Samuel Ogude
The newly sworn-in President of the Ijaw National Congress, High Chief Barr. MacDonald Ebi Igbadiwei, has decried the neglect and marginalisation of the Ijaw people despite the enormous natural resources in their region. He stated this on Thursday at Chief Tunde Smooth Playground in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State during his acceptance speech shortly after the inauguration of his executive members who will pilot the affairs of the body for the next five years.
According to him, the Ijaw nation contributes over 80 percent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, yet the people continue to live in poverty and suffer neglect. His words: “Our land is richly blessed with natural resources and is responsible for over 80 percent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings. Yet, our people are not in control of these resources. Instead, our people continue to face marginalisation, environmental degradation and political exclusion.” Igbadiwei lamented that the Ijaw language is gradually going into extinction, noting that many educated youths in Ijaw communities remain unemployed while the unity of the people is constantly being tested.
Some of the Traditional Rulers and others at the occasion on Thursday
The INC President who titled his speech “Building A New Ijaw Nation Together,” said, his administration would focus on tackling the major challenges confronting the Ijaw nation through unity, development and political inclusion. He disclosed that his administration would work towards the creation of Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers states, expansion of local government areas in Bayelsa State, and address the alleged marginalisation of Ijaw people in Akwa Ibom State, Edo State and Ondo State.
His words:” We will make the INC work for every member, not just a select few. We will create opportunities for modern skills acquisition, networking and sustainable impact that will endure beyond our tenure.”
On the issue of host communities in Ibeno, he assured affected residents of lawful actions to ensure justice and recognition for communities hosting oil companies including Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Conoil Producing Limited and now Seplat Energy Plc. He also vowed that the Congress would continue to pursue the enforcement of the Supreme Court judgment on ward delineation in the Warri Federal Constituency.
Faces of some those present at the ceremony on Thursday
The INC President called on Ijaw people to unite and support the new leadership to ensure progress and development across the nation. Igbadiwei expressed appreciation to Governors of Bayelsa and representatives of Delta, Rivers, Ondo Edo and Akwa Ibom States traditional rulers, elders, the outgoing executive, political leaders, youths, women, delegates from across Ijaw Nation and Diaspora, friends of the Ijaw nation for their support towards the success of the programme.
Earlier in his address, the outgoing President of the Congress, Prof. Benjamin Ogele Okaba, said, he inherited an organisation that had remained inactive for seven years without leadership before his administration revived it. According to him, the Congress under his leadership addressed issues of environmental degradation, marginalisation and deprivation affecting the Ijaw people while also restoring the integrity and autonomy of the organisation. He noted that the INC is now vibrant, structurally revitalised and globally recognised.
Faces of some those present at the ceremony on Thursday
Okaba listed some achievements of his administration to include structural revitalisation of the organisation, production of the Pan-Ijaw Territorial Map and advocacy for the Ijaw people and the Niger Delta region. He said the administration also established various tiers of governance within the Congress and registered 15 affiliated groups to strengthen the voice of the Ijaw people both in Nigeria and in the diaspora. Reflecting on challenges faced during his tenure, Okaba recalled oil spill incidents in Gbaramatu, Nembe and Bille as well as internal disagreements within the Congress.
His words: ”These five years were not without storms. We mourned oil spill victims in Gbaramatu, Nembe and Bille. We buried patriots who dedicated their entirety to the struggle.” He, however, assured the new leadership of his continued support and urged them to remain steadfast and committed to the struggle for the progress of the Ijaw nation.
The event, attended by traditional rulers, political leaders and dignitaries from different parts of the country, climaxed with the administration of oath of office on the newly inaugurated executive members.