The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Western Zone comprising Delta, Edo and Ondo states, has said it would not participate in the planned nationwide protest tagged "EndBadGovernanceInNigeria" that is scheduled to hold across the country from August 1 to 10, 2024, citing reasons that include lack of consultation of the youth body and the failure of the organisers to capture in their demands peculiar needs as it affects the Ijaw Nation among others.

The IYC Western Zone made its position known in a Press Release that was signed by its Chairman, Nicholas Igarama; Secretary, Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo Esq.; and Information Officer, Tare Magbei; and released on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

The IYC Western Zone also hinged its decision not to join the protest on the counsels from the leadership of the national body as well as from prominent leaders of the Ijaw Nation.

The Comr. Igarama-led IYC noted that while there is need to address bad governance, however said it would rather dissipate its energies towards addressing local issues affecting the youth body, while it stays committed to "peace, stability, and constructive engagement" and the need "to work together for the betterment of our community through peaceful and progressive dialogue."

The full statement titled "#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria: Our Standpoint" reads as follows:

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, after a thorough and diligent consultation with the IYC National Executive Council and critical stakeholders, affirms as follows;

1] That Nigeria is currently faced with diverse and severe economic hardship levels occasioned by the implementation of poorly thought-out policies like the hike in pump price of petrol and electricity tariff.

2] That the demands of the organizers of the proposed nationwide protest, which includes implementation of the resolutions reached at the 2014 national confab, reduction of petrol and gas prices, fixing and putting local refineries into use, among other demands are timely and in order.

3] However, after thorough deliberation and consideration of the current socio-political, climate and the interests of our people, we present the following reasons for our standpoint:

a. That the Ijaw Youth Council, Western Zone and its national body were not duly consulted by the proposed protest organisers in the design of their demands.

b. That IYC, the most structured and reputable youth organisation in sub-Saharan Africa, will not be coerced into partaking in a protest that is organized by faceless entities with no actionable plans.

c. That the proposed  #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest themed "10 Days of Rage" has so much unexplainable undertones and symptoms of a revolution, and bears so much risk.

d. The proposed protest lacks a unified and strategic leadership structure. This ambiguity can lead to mismanagement of the protests, reducing their effectiveness and increasing the risk of unintended consequences.

e. That demands that bothers on the development of the Niger Delta like the East-West Road, environmental remediation of the Niger Delta are not captured in the proposed protest.

f. There is need for all IOCs to relocate their headquarters to the Niger Delta region to boost the economic fortune of the Niger Delta region, this was not captured in the demands for the nation wide protest.

g. That the intentional exclusion of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of the Niger Delta People from their onshore divestment initiative that is major concern for the Niger Delta people is not also captured in the demands of nation wide protest.

h. As a community, we treat with respect the counsel of the National Executive Council and prominent leaders of Ijaw nation, and their calls for us to shun the protest is based on a deep understanding of the potential risks involved.

i. While we recognize the importance of addressing bad governance at the national level, it is crucial that we also focus on local issues that directly impact the Ijaw nation. Our energies should be directed towards tackling challenges within our immediate environment.

4] On that note, the IYC Western Zone calls on the Federal Government and all appropriate quarters to discontinue the divestment of the onshore assets of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) until Ijaw sons and daughters are captured in the bidding and sales process.

5] The deliberate denial mete out on our people in the sale of assets domiciled in Ijaw will not be tolerated, and as promised we will shutdown oil and gas exploration activities of the SPDC if our sons and daughters are not given room to be part of the divestment process.

6] Conclusively, the Ijaw Youth Council, Western Zone, strongly advises all Ijaw youths to abstain from the proposed #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest owing to the aforementioned standpoints of Council.

Our commitment to peace, stability, and constructive engagement remains unwavering. Let us continue to work together for the betterment of our community through peaceful and progressive dialogue.

Signed,
NICHOLAS IGARAMA 
Chairman, IYC Western Zone

EBI JOSHUA OLOWOLAYEMO ESQ 
Secretary, IYC Western Zone

TARE MAGBEI
Information Officer, IYC Western Zone

#penglobalcommunity #protest #IYC #WesternZone