The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has declared readiness to shut down the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over the appointment of a sole administrator instead of a substantive board.
National spokesman for IYC, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, in a statement on Wednesday commended Ijaw youths for their huge turnout during Monday’s blockade of the East-West road for over three hours in protest against the appointment of a sole administrator.
Ekerefe, who particularly thanked the three zonal chairmen; Clever Inodu of Central Zone, Frank Akiefa of Western Zone and Tobi James of Eastern Zone for joining the national leadership in demonstrating courage and capacity during the protest, noted that the protest was not over.
He said, “The Monday protest is a litmus test compared to the next protest that will be staged in the NDDC headquarters, Port Harcourt by Ijaw youths until President Muhammadu Buhari corrects himself from the error in judgement and appoint a substantive board that will fast-track developments in the region as enshrined in the NDDC Act.”
The spokesman reassured Ijaw youths and stakeholders of the region that the IYC would no longer sleep over matters of fundamental regional interest, but would go all out legitimately to push for the right things to be done.
He also thanked the security agencies for the professional conduct in the discharge of their duties, which to a large extent, contributed to the peaceful demonstration without brigandage on the East-West road.
Recall that angry Ijaw youths on Monday blocked the East-West road in protest over the appointment of a sole administrator instead of a substantive board for the NDDC.
The protesters massed at the strategic Mbiama-Yenagoa junction of the federal highway as early as 6.30am using trailer, trucks and other objects to barricade the road leaving thousands of travellers and other road users stranded for about three hours.