IYC Calls For True Federalism, Relocation OF IOCs As Nigeria Marks 61st Independence
Foremost ethno pressure group, the Ijaw Youth Council IYC Worldwide has reechoed its earlier stance that only a restructured Nigeria can salvage the nation from its multifaceted challenges.
The IYC in a statement of felicitation to Nigerians on the occasion of its 61st Independence Anniversary and Bayelsa’s Silver Jubilee of state creation, called on the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to rewrite history by reverting to true federalism.
The statement signed by the Spokesperson of the body Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe , stressed that Nigeria is currently bedeviled with division, ethnic crisis, inequality and injustice due to the perceived lopsided structure in the government at the center.
While highlighting some of the steps that would change the narrative and calm frayed nerves, Comrade Ekerefe called on the federal government to direct all IOCs to relocate their operating headquarters to their respective base in the Niger Delta.
This according to the IYC Spokesperson will for example attend to some of the agitations of the South South geopolitical zone of the country, and most importantly contribute to the internally generated revenue of the states.
The IYC in the statement equally congratulated the Bayelsa State Government and the people for witnessing the 25th state creation anniversary under the leadership of Senator Douye Diri.
It noted that at 25, the homogeneous Ijaw speaking state has come a long way and overcame numerous challenges in the course of achieving the dreams and aspirations of its founding fathers.
The IYC called on well-meaning Bayelsans at home and in diaspora to join hands with the present administration to drive home the needed developmental programmes and policies that will place the state in the comity of economically advanced societies.
They encouraged the Governor General of the Ijaw Nation not to relent in his Prosperity Agenda which is already yielding results in the area of award of contracts and most especially the commencement of commercial flight at the state international airport.
The body added that a prosperous state is only possible where peace, and harmony reigns supreme and called on all stakeholders irrespective of political interest and ideology to work together for this to be achieved.
