Save Ijaw Nation Commends Gov Dickson On Restructuring

……Calls upon APC government to be sincere with implementation of recommendations

The Save Ijaw Nation Group has commended the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, for what it called His consistency, in the advocacy, for the Restructuring of the country, especially as preparation intensifies, towards the 2019, General elections.

The group commended Governor Dickson, for consistently speaking out at this critical time and for supporting the Opinion of patriotic Nigerians who have been talking, about the current structure of Nigeria, which is No longer working.

It also appreciated the Governor Dickson's consistent position on the need to review the long exclusive list in the 1999 Constitution to allow for the transfer of several items to the concurrent legislative list.

In a statement issued in Abuja today, by the Spokesman of the group, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, the group said, it is instructive to note that when white pap is gotten from a black pot and the chicken begins to come home to roost, perhaps for once the nation will get it right and live as a nation should truly do.

"As much as we and Nigerians have given up on the APC and their style of administration of the country, it came as a pleasant surprise that the party's committee will come up with the recommendations it did and in the form it did.

Perhaps the ears that once were blocked and the heart once made rigid can now hear and reason. We commend and salute the courage and statemanship of the Governor of Bayelsa state, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson who has come out openly to commend the Governor Nasir Elrufai led committee about their sincerity and for doing for once what is expected of leaders who listens to the agitation of the people."

"We strongly align our opinion, with Governor Dickson, when He did say that the recommendations had further strengthened the agitations for true federalism and resource control in the Niger Delta and he cannot be less right in his assertion."

"Our group join the governor of Bayelsa state to call on the APC to be sincere with the implementation of the recommendations as restructuring Nigeria would calm frayed nerves and strengthen the nation’s unity.

We call on the leadership of the APC to ensure implementation of the recommendations of its committee on restructuring before the conduct of the 2019 General elections if only they wish to redeem whatever is left of their draining integrity."

The Group further said, implementing the report before 2019 general elections is the only true test of the sincerity of the APC on the recommendations.

"What the APC committee did in its recommendations was the most fundamental of all the approaches to the burning issue of restructuring in the best interest of the country."

"As a politician driven by conviction beyond partisanship, we commend the Governor of Bayelsa state for his courage in admitting a one-time good from the obviously disappointing APC and also commend the APC on its bold recommendations on restructuring because it was right and worthy of appreciation."

The group further posited, that it hoped that the recommendations of Governor Seriake Dickson must be seriously looked into by all Nigerians, while also challenging the APC to prove doubtful elements in the country wrong by putting in place the right measures to implement the report

Press Release Issued At The End Of A Consultative Meeting Of The Leaders Of Thought Of The Ijaw Nationality

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED AT THE END OF A CONSULTATIVE MEETING OF THE LEADERS OF THOUGHT OF THE IJAW NATIONALITY 

Leaders of Thought of the Ijaw ethnic nation, held an Emergency Consultative Meeting at the country home of Elderstatesman, Chief (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON, in Kiagbodo, Delta State. Amongst others, the Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Rt. Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson; the Deputy Governor of Delta State, His Excellency (Barr.) Deacon Kingsley Burutu Utuaro, former Governors, former Ministers, members of the National Assembly, President General, Ijaw Youth Congress, IYC, Barr. Oweilaimi, Academics, Clergy and other Leaders were in attendance.

2. The Meeting discussed issues pertaining to current events in the country, the situation in the Niger Delta and matters pertaining to the wellbeing of the Ijaw people.

3. After exhaustive discussions, the Ijaw Leaders agreed as follows: 

i.       Reaffirmed the collective determination to preserve the unity and promote the interest of the Ijaw nation and the wellbeing of its people in the six States of the Federation within the context of a united Nigeria;

ii.     Reviewed with satisfaction the on-going efforts to conduct elections to fill positions in the Ijaw National Congress;

iii.    Re-echoed and commended various groups in the country, who have continued to bring up the question of Restructuring of the country to the centre place in national discourse;

iv.    Reaffirmed the position that Restructuring of the country is about the survival of the Nigerian nation and that the Ijaw people will align themselves to candidates who canvass the position in the forth coming 2019 General Elections;

v.     Salutes the work on by the Committee on Restructuring set up by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) led by Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai; hoping that this is being done with genuine commitment and sincerity;

vi.    Constituted a high level Committee, led by Prof. Emeritus Dagogo Fubara, to further study the recommendations of the Governor El-Rufai Committee, realizing that the Ijaws have been the most affected and short changed by the prevailing situation in the country;

vii.   Calls on the ruling APC to take the gauntlet, to open the report of the El-Rufai Committee alongside the earlier work done by the 2014 National Conference, for national debate within a set time frame;

viii.  Calls on Mr. President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to show the courage in setting a legislative agenda in place to implement the outcome of the critical issues raised in these Reports, as a way of bringing about a Nigeria where equity, fair play and justice reigns;

ix.    Reaffirmed its commitment towards the proposed South-South Mega Rally on restructuring to be held in Yenagoa on 24th March, 2018 under the auspices of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF); Issued in Kiagbodo, Delta State on Tuesday, 30th January, 2018.

x.     Noted with concern and worry, reports regarding possible winding down of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP since this has been the instrument for sustaining peace and security in the Niger Delta Region;

xi.    Commended Governor Henry Seriake Dickson for his untiring work in building bridges of peace and unity across the country, and his efforts to position Bayelsa State as the light house of socio-economic transformation in Nigeria;

xii.   Express appreciation to the Elder Statesman, Chief (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, for his continued leadership, doggedness and contributions to the stability and progress of Nigeria.

2019 Election Is A Referendum On Restructuring- Ijaw Leaders

By Cyril Onoka

Arising from a meeting of Ijaw Leaders  of Thought on Tuesday, prominent Ijaw leaders across the country have vowed to only support candidates and particularly presidential candidates who genuinely believe and support a restructured Nigeria.

The meeting which held in the Country home of the foremost Ijaw Leader and elder statesman, Pa Edwin Clark in Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State took far reaching decisions.   

The leaders urged President Muhammadu Buhari to show political will in ensuring that the country is restructured before the 2019 elections. They said they want a restructured country within the context of a corporate, united and peaceful Nigeria that guarantees equal right for all Nigerians adding that only restructuring can guarantee peace in the country. 

Shedding more light on the position of the leaders of Thought, Bayelsa State   Governor, Honorable Henry Seriake Dickson said the 2019 Election Will Be A Referendum On Restructuring with its concomitant derivatives of resource control, devolution of power, state police and in deed fiscal federalism!

He said: "Restructuring is about our existence as a people, it is not about APC or PDP. We as Ijaws, want a Nigeria that is fair, just and equitable and this is what restructuring represents." 

A press statement signed  by the Special Adviser on Ijaw Affairs to the Governor, Dr Felix Tuodolo said the meeting also set up committee to present a coherent position on the Restructuring from the Ijaw point of view. 

Prominent amongst those at the meeting were:  Chief Edwin Clark, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, Alabo Tonye- Graham Douglas, Chief Brodericks Bosimo formers ministers,  Ambassador God knows Igali, Prof. Dagogo Fubara, Prof Nimi Briggs, Prof Joe Ajienka, Prof C. Dime, Prof Steve Azaiki, Dr Pius Sinebe, Chief Wellington Okrika, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw Affairs, Hon Dressy Dressman top government functionaries and a host of other Ijaw leaders.