By Francis Sadhere
The Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) worldwide on Wednesday said resolving the issue of resource control in the country is key to addressing the problem of the Niger Delta region.
While commending Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’ bold step towards ensuring that there is peace in the region, IYC urged the Federal Government to set up its team and commence the dialogue process with the Pan Niger Forum (PANDEF).
IYC President, Comrade Eric Omare said this during his maiden press briefing as President of IYC held at the Warri Correspondent Chapel NUJ, Warri.
He said the IYC still believed in the Keyama declaration which hinges on equity, fairness and justice, adding that until justice is given to the people of the Niger Delta region by way of allowing them to control their resources, peace will continue to ellude the region.
He said, I want to disagree with Acting President Osinbajo who said that there is no need for dialogue. No amount of tour of the Niger Delta region will address the issue of the region until the issue of resource control is addressed. Until the issue of justice is addressed, the region will know no peace. We believe in equity, fairness and justice.”
While commending the Federal government’s order to multinationals oil companies to relocate their headquarters to the Niger Delta region, Omare urged the Federal Government to give them a time frame for the relocation.
He said, “this is the only way the people of the region will know that the Federal government is serious. There must be a time frame so that people will not look at the order as another jamboree. It is not enough to give the oil multinationals an order to relocate their headquarters to the Niger Delta region.”
Commenting on the incident where some Ijaw youth came out to protest during Acting President Osinbajo visit to Benin, Omare said the Ijaws in Gelegele felt marginalized because Osinbajo failed to visit their community ad promised.
He said the community felt slighted after being told that Osinbajo will pay them a visit only for him to change his mind.
Sequel to this incident, Omare appealed to the Edo State government and the Federal government to give the Ijaws in Edo a sense of belonging.
He also urged the Federal Government to resettle those Ijaw communities in Delta and Akwa Ibom states whose communities have been completely wiped out due to crisis between their neighbouring communities.
“We are greatly concerned about our brothers in Diabiri community that have been displaced in since 1995. We are also concerned about our brothers in Amazagba community in Akwa Ibom. These two communities have been displaced and are now living as refugees in other communities. So I want to appeal the Delta and Edo State government and the Federal Government to please look at how they can build their communities for them.”
On the election that made him the new President of the IYC, Omare said that the dissaffection going on in some quarters in the union was normal, adding that they will resolve all the crisis soon.
On illegal refining going on the region, Omare also welcomed the Federal Government’s resolved to create modular refineries which will take over the so called illegal refineries.
He however condemned the Joint military Task Force (JTF) for the destruction of illegal refineries in the region, claiming that their actions have continued to pollute the environment.
