The Central Zone of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has called for the suspension of four national officers of the council for allegedly undermining the authority of Jonathan Lokpobiri, the president.
The four officers are Maobuye Nangi Obu, Secretary-General, Miracle Iyaye, National Women Leader, Comrade Abiye Bob-Manuel, National Deputy Director of Mobilization and Tamunotonye David Altraide, National Legal Adviser.
In a communique issued at the end of an emergency stakeholders congress on Thursday in Yenagoa, the IYC Central Zone, said they will not sit back and watch the four officers advance selfish interest and destabilize the administration of Lokpobiri.
The communique read in part: "Sequel to the Emergency Congress of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Central Zone, well-attended by the serving Zonal Leadership, past leaders of Council and other Stakeholders, the following communiques were issued.
"That we condemn in ‘strong terms’ every form of harassment meted out on our Leader and National President of Council by a few bittered and unscrupulous elements.
"That we call on the immediate suspension of the Four (4) IYC National Officers from the Eastern Zone, Namely; (Maobuye Nangi Obu, National Secretary General, Abiye Bobmanuel, National Deputy Director of Mobilization, Altraide Tonye David, National Legal Advicer and Miracle Iyayi, National Women Leader) for promoting strife, playing politics of bitterness, acrimony, championing animosity and betraying the overall conscience of the people within the Ijaw ethnic nationality."
They stated that it has become a reoccurring trend for national officers of the council from the east to always discredit every president from the central zone and stressed that they will not allow it to continue again.
"That from time immemorial, a bittered few from the Eastern Zone have consistently and constantly harassed the National Presidents of Council from the Central Zone. From the miscalculated attempts to malign the character of Chief Dr. Oyeinfie Emmanuel JonJon, to the charlatans who masqueraded as crusaders to stampede the Presidency of Engr. Udengs Eradiri and now to the “Four (4) Musketeers” from the Eastern Zone who are bent on rubbishing the Presidency of Sir. Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr. Enough is Enough!
"That the Central Zone been the “Mother of All Zones” in their usual peaceful nature, candor and hospitality have been tolerating the excesses and childish tantrums of the National IYC Excos from the Eastern flank; that despite our maturity, camaraderie for togetherness, unity and progress and our usual candor for tolerance, we say enough of this nuisance and malfeasance.
"That moving further, we will no longer condone the overt or covert disrespect of Sir. Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr. the President of Council by a few who are bent on rocking the boat and disrupting our common peace, "they warned.
While calling on the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to proffer lasting solution to the issues bedeviling the council, they passed a vote of confidence on Lokpobiri for what they described as his leadership qualities and his achievement so far.
They listed the achievements to include; facilitating a three-days Leadership Training for Ijaw Youths in Ghana, establishing the 1st IYC United Kingdom (UK Chapter), in London, continuous provision of educational incentives to Ijaw Youths studying in Nigeria and the diaspora, amongst others.
