Politicians interested in the Bayelsa State governorship election on November 11 have been warned by the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, Worldwide, that the group will not tolerate any kind of bloodshed before, during, or after the election.
Following its executive council meeting over the weekend, it urged the federal and state governments to give long-term flood disaster solutions in the Niger Delta region first priority.
Political players and gladiators are urged to avoid any behaviour that can inflame tension in Bayelsa during the upcoming election, according to a bulletin from the council that was released after the meeting and was signed by factional president Dr. Alayi Theophilus.
He urged politicians to avoid inciting hatred and concentrate on persuading voters to support their platforms.
According to the IYC, political factors and electoral procedures should never take precedence over the lives and safety of Ijaw individuals. In the event that any Ijaw lives are lost during or after the election, we will hold politicians accountable.
“The IYC shall not fold her arms in the event that the state’s current peace is threatened. All politicians are urged to avoid using hate speech and instead concentrate on outlining their platforms. More valuable than any political aspiration is our life.
IYC praised the federal government and other groups for helping flood victims in the area, but stated that in order to permanently solve the issue, necessary drainage systems must be built and villages in the area that are prone to flooding must be dredged.
In light of the disasters’ tendency to recur, he declared, “We immediately call upon both the federal and state governments to prioritise and execute long-term remedies. This entails starting extensive coastline dredging as well as building numerous drainage systems to the streams that will discharge the water to the sea.
“To lessen the impact of flooding in following years, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration must reactivate our defunct dam in Adamawa and build three other dams inside the flood corridors. When these dams are finished and put into use, they will produce hydropower that will be added to the national grid in addition to acting as water storage facilities.
“The trauma brought on by the flooding last year has not yet completely healed among the Ijaw. Billion-naira worth of goods were destroyed, and weird ailments are still being reported today. The catastrophe we are living through cannot possibly be compared to the palliative.
In his recent awarding of N78 billion in contracts, the governor of Delta State was charged by the IYC for marginalising Ijaw villages.
While recognising and applauding the Delta State Governor for his efforts in awarding a huge N78 billion contract, the council stated: “We find it distressing to watch the marginalisation of the Ijaw areas. The Ayakoromo bridge project, which needs just N6 billion more to be finished, cries out for attention.
The Ojobo Road is no longer in use. As a result, it is unfair that the N78 billion contract issued by the Delta State Government does not include Ijaw regions. The IYC requests that the Delt Government reconsider the inclusion of Ijaw communities. We contend that attempts for development must seriously take into account the interests of all communities.
The council also urged justice for victims of police brutality in the Niger Delta, especially in light of recent incidences in Delta State and Rivers State.
