INC: Ozobo Cautions Reconciliation Committee Against Being Used As Tools, Demands Immediate Reopening of Ijaw House

By Osaro Michael, Benin

YENAGOA – Niger Delta Activist and Ijaw leader Hon. Comrade Ozobo Austin has warned the reconciliation committee set up by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri against pursuing personal interests, urging members to remain guided and resist being used for selfish purposes.

Speaking on the committee’s mandate, Ozobo said the body must not allow itself to be instrumentalized to advance any individual agenda. He argued that Governor Diri does not hold a superior position within the Ijaw nation and is not the “governor general” of the ethnic group.

“The only person widely recognized as the governor general of the Ijaw nation was the late DSP Alamieyesegha,” Ozobo stated. “Diri does not care about the plight of Ijaw people living in other states, and he should stop presenting himself as the governor general.”

He said the reconciliation committee should operate with clear guidance, noting that the National Electoral Committee of INC had concluded the elections and winners had emerged. According to him, the existence of aggrieved parties after an election does not invalidate its outcome.

“We will only support Diri’s reconciliation effort if it was genuinely constituted to persuade and harmonize aggrieved elders towards upholding Ijaw nation interest,” he added.

Ozobo also criticized the governor’s move to lock the Ijaw House, saying Diri lacks both the moral and legal authority to do so. He maintained that the building was not funded with the governor’s personal resources and that the Ijaw nation did not grant him such powers.

“The Ijaw House can only be locked if there is a unanimous resolution by a two-thirds majority of the Ijaw nation. Diri’s action is baseless, barbaric, obnoxious, unfounded, and unconstitutional, and it risks escalating tension in the Ijaw nation,” he said.

Addressing Ijaw elders, Ozobo urged them to set aside personal interests and avoid desperation over electoral outcomes. He said elections are not a do-or-die affair and that while multiple candidates may contest, only one winner emerges.

“The elections were free, fair, and credible. Elders should prioritize Ijaw unity, peace, and collective interest above personal ambition. They should live up to expectations and avoid actions that could further divide the Ijaw nation,” he said.

Ozobo concluded by calling on Governor Diri to immediately reopen the Ijaw House, warning that failure to do so could prompt legal action.

He said, “I wish to warn Diri Reconciliation Committee against pursuing personal agenda, and it should be guided. They should not allow themselves to be used as tools to achieve Diri and others selfish agenda. Diri is not more Ijaw than anybody. He is not the governor general of the Ijaw nation. We only knew the late DSP Alamieyesegha as the governor general of the Ijaw nation. Diri doesn’t care about the suffering of the Ijaws in other states in the federation. He should stop parading himself as governor general of the Ijaw nation.

“The reconciliation committee should be guided, the INC elections has been conducted, winners have been emerging. Of course, every election there must be aggrieved people, and some people were angry didn’t invalidate the outcome of the election. We will only welcome Diris reconciliation committee if it is genuinely constituted to persuade and harmonize aggrieved elders.

“Again, Diri doesn’t have the moral and legal rights to lock the Ijaw house, because Ijaw nation doesn’t give him that right. The Ijaw house was not built with his father’s money. Ijaw house can only be locked except there is unanimous resolution taken by 2/3 majority of the Ijaw nation. Diris action is baseless, barbaric, obnoxious, unfounded and unconstitutional. His action is capable of escalating tension in the Ijaw nation.

“To our revered Ijaw elders, I beseech you to shun personal interests and avoid desperation. Election is not do or die affairs. Despite the number of contestants, it is only one winner that always emerged. So they should take it in good faith the outcome of the election. The elections were free, fair and credible. So tomorrow is another day, they should always prioritize Ijaw unity, peace above the personal interest. I expect you to leave up to expectations as elders and don’t do anything that will further divide the Ijaw nation. Again, I urge the governor Douye Diri to immediately open the Ijaw house, so that we will not institute legal action against him”, the statement read.