IYC crisis: Zonal leadership disowns Igbifa’s pre-election convention

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

The leadership of zones and chapters of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC has disassociated itself from the president of the Ijaw Youths apex bodies Mr Peter Igbifa’s purported pre-election national convention scheduled on Tuesday, 27th June 2023

This is according to a release signed by Adam Ebimobowei Ogomugo, Chairman of IYC Abuja and secretary of IYC zones and chapters chairmanship forum; Dr Doubra Collins Okotete, Chairman of Western Zone and Member of IYC zones and chapters Chairmen Forum; Tikima Arigban, chairman, Lagos chapter and member IYC zones and chapters Chairman Forum.

The leadership stated that its disassociation from the purported pre-election was due to the challenges the Ijaw people in Eastern Obolo are going through and the National Executive Council under Mr Peter Timothy had not done anything tangible to help the Ijaw people in Akwa Ibom State.

They maintained that following the oppressive nature of the Akwa Ibom State government against the Ijaw people, Timothy didn’t deem it fit to call for an expanded executive meeting to look into the issues affecting his people from Obolo.

However, they said that it was an aberration for a national president to call for a pre-election national convention without meeting with his executives.

The group condemned what it described as insensitive by President Igbifa to sign a document without the signature of the Secretary General of the council, stating that IYC is not Igbifa’s personal property.