April 13, 2015 – All Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has outlined conditions for the continued existence of peace in the sub-region as President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari prepares for his inauguration.
The IYC who made the revelation during the Extraordinary All Ijaw Youth Congress at Tuomo Community in Delta State called on Buhari to fortify the amnesty programme, the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) and the Ministry of the Niger Delta, all organs set up to develop the Niger Delta which has continued to provide the means for sustaining the federation.
It also called for an all-inclusive government and implementation of the 2014 national confab report.
In a statement, President IYC, Comrade Udengs Eradiri called on the Niger Delta youths to remain calm and continue to maintain peace after weighing the outcome of the March 28 Presidential election.
“The Presidential Amnesty programme for Ex-Agitators in the Niger-Delta region which has greatly contributed to the sustenance of peace in the Niger-Delta region be sustained by the incoming administration to maintain peace in the region.
“The existing federal structures set up to develop the Niger-Delta region such as the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Niger-Delta Ministry and other schemes should be strengthened and properly funded to rapidly develop the region by the incoming administration; address problems of environmental degradation in the Niger-Delta region including implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoni and general environmental remediation in other parts of the region which are affected by environmental degradation;
“The recommendations of the National Confab should be implemented by the incoming government to deepen our federal system of government where the federating units would develop at their own pace. This would address some of the imbalances responsible for political instability in Nigeria and the desperation to control government at the centre”, the IYC said.
It also called on the incoming government to start the process of national integration and run an all-inclusive government to address the polarization and disunity arising from the outcome of the Presidential elections.
It expressed profound appreciation to Nigerians especially the people of the south-east who supported President Jonathan during the elections adding that the Ijaw Nation is satisfied with the performance and conduct of President Jonathan in office would warmly welcome him back home from national service.
