The Ibe-sorimowei of Ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Comrade Mulade Sheriff, has congratulated the newly elected Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) president for a successful and transparent election. He charged the newly elected executives led by Comrade Dcn Peter Timothy Igbifa as the eighth President not to be influenced by pride and sycophants but to be proactive and selfless.
Speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Sunday 19th July, 2020, on the just concluded IYC election, Chief Mulade, the National Coordinator of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, said the peaceful conduct of the election showed that Gbaramatu kingdom is the home of peace in the Niger Delta region, especially with the presence of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo.
He strongly advised the Comrade Peter Timothy Igbifa led executive not to be carried away by the euphoria of their posts like their predecessors, charging them to shun all forms of sycophancy, pride and the spirit to amass financial wealth, to enable them fight selflessly for the growth and development of Ijaw youths, Ijaw nation, as well as the entire Niger Delta region.
He noted that the vision of the founding fathers of the council, which was premised on the Kaiama Declaration, was to have a formidable, reliable and purposeful youth leadership that would pilot the affairs of Ijaw youths towards peacefully demanding for development in areas such as education, environmental justice, employment and political emancipation of Ijaw nation.
Chief Comrade Sheriff Mulade also urged the newly elected IYC to be peaceful in their approach to issues and always have listening ears to genuine advice and suggestions from elders of Ijaw nation, as well as from past IYC presidents, leaders, other stakeholders and extend hands of fellowship to all aggrieved parties for us to have a stronger body in the Niger Delta.
Speaking on how proactive they should be and the specific areas of focus for the executive, Chief Sheriff Mulade advised them to be proactive in all issues bordering on youth matters, oppression, subversion of justice and fundamental human rights, environmental pollution by companies operating in Ijaw land and the Niger Delta at large in conjunction with other structures and authorities, manage such issues and initiate realistic, positive life changing programmes for youths in the Niger Delta region, without recourse to violence.
Giving his support to the newly elected executives of Ijaw Youth Council, he said his office is open to them at all times, and that he is fully ready to provide assistance and give them the required advice to pilot the affairs of IYC to greater heights.
Meanwhile, Chief Mulade appreciated the IYC ELECO led by Barrister Bekeowei Ajuwa for the transparent and peaceful conduct of the elections. He also appreciated the youths of Gbaramatu kingdom for the enabling environment they created to achieve this great feat for the IYC.
The election of the new executive of IYC was attended by youths in their numbers from different walks of life across Ijaw kingdoms and Nigeria at large in support of candidates vying for the various positions.
The election was also well attended by delegates from all Ijaw kingdoms including Lagos and Abuja chapters, highly respected leaders, past presidents and student union government executives. The election was held at Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of the Ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom, on Sunday, July 19, 2020
