Fifteen aspirants jostle for National elective positions in the Ijaw Youth Council

Fifteen aspirants have shown interest to context for the various positions in the National Executive of umbrella body of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide in the Niger Delta region.

Already, the IYC has set up nine-man electoral Committee headed by Barr. Bekere Ajuwa with two representatives each from three zones of Eastern, Central and Western in the region. Also allowed to present nominations into the electoral body are the Lagos and Abuja chapters of the Council.

Our source gathered that the Presidency is zoned to the Eastern area with aspirants expected from Rivers and Akwa Ibom states. The Secretary-General is expected to emerge from Western Zone with Delta,Ondo and Edo expected to produce aspirants.

The position of the Spokesperson, which is zone to the Central zone, is expected to attract aspirants from Bayelsa State, Abua and Odua areas of Rivers State.

Three aspirants have already emerged for the position of the Spokesperson of the IYC with Hon. Ebilade Ekerefe, Robert Joel Igali and Bright Influence Igali jostling for support among stakeholders.

Comr. Ebilade Ekerefe, who made his intention known to stakeholders in Yenagoa at the weekend, said though he has had the intention to serve the IYC, the coming election is critical to the vision of the region as Ijaw People, “if you follow the political landscape critically, people have started forming regional blocs around the country. There are issues of insecurity, under development, unemployment, banditry and many others. What is more fundamental is that, as Ijaw people, what would be our position in the Nigerian state where everyone is expected to regroup and form synergy.”

Ekerefe, who is rated high among the IYC stakeholder as an experience hand, noted that the Ijaw people are not expected to take a back seat in the Nation’s polity, ”we, as Ijaw people, must come together and see how we will take our deserved position on what concern us as a people. If elected as spokesperson, we will garner ourselves as Ijaw Youth Council as convene the Ijaw Youth summit to form synergy as a region.”

He also cautioned against the ongoing division among political office holders and youth leaders from the Ijaw nation, “we are being divided along political lines. We have to reason that we are first Ijaw people before belonging to a political party. As a spokesperson, I will guard and protect the institution of IYC and speak in a manner that will not promote anyone’s political agenda. My major concern will be to promote the good of the people.”

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