The Watchdog for Progressive Ijaw has lashed out at the spokesperson for the Ijaw Youths Council Worldwide, Ebilade Ekerefe for attempting to counter the position of the council’s President, Peter Timothy Igbifa on the current development in the Niger Delta Development Commission.
While the President and council called off all proposed protests against the NDDC and opted for an all-inclusive stakeholders’ meeting, Ekerefe in a statement said there’s no going back on the protests.
But WPI in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Lambert Olambo, lampooned Ekerefe for trying to work in cross purposes with Igbifa and his council describing the development as abominable, contemptuous and irresponsible.
He said: “We have observed with dismay the naked dance and divisive tendencies of the Spokesman of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Ebilade Ekerefe, over critical and sensitive issues that could jeopardise the future aspirations of the Ijaw Nation and throw the Niger Delta region into avoidable security crisis if not well-managed.
“As professionals, we are constrained to warn Ekerefe to stop arrogating his personal ambitions and selfish interest over the general aspirations and safety of the Ijaw nation and the entire Niger Delta region.
“We commend the President of IYC, Peter Timothy Igbifa, and his council for opting for an all-inclusive stakeholders meeting to deliberate on issues affecting the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta including the current management structure of the NDDC.
“Igbifa and his council also directed all agrieved persons to halt all protest planned in the name of the council against the appointment of Effiong Akwa as the sole administrator of the NDDC and allow the proposed meeting articulate a common position and marshal out action plans.
“We are, however, miffed that after such sound decision was taken by Igbifa and his council, Ekerefe, whose only duty is to propagate and spread the disposition of the President and the council, issued a counter directive faulting such collective decision and calling for a protest.
“We want to make it categorically clear that the responsibility to lead IYC dwells with the President of council and not the spokesman. Igbifa as the President will render an account of activities, actions, programmes and projects that occur within his tenure as the leader of the council. He takes responsibility for everything that transpires; receives the praises and bears the blames.
“Ekerefe was not elected to make decisions for the council and is debarred from arrogating such responsibility to himself. It is, therefore, an abominable, contemptuous and irresponsible act laced with high dose of arrogance for a spokesman to counter the decision of Igbifa and his council”.
Continuing he said: “Who gave Ekerefe the power to speak against the directive of the President? If he wants to hold a personal view or criticise the decision of the President and council, he should first resign his position as the spokesman of the IYC.
“We stand by the decision of Igbifa and his council and we want to challenge Ekerefe or anybody to lead a protest in the name of IYC against NDDC before the stakeholders’ meeting. Anybody, who goes contrary to the directive of Igbifa is challenging the office of the IYC Presidency and will surely get consequential overdose of such disobedient act.
“We are warning all the youths not to be deceived by the antics of Ekerefe. We know all his actions are being bankrolled by the enemies of the Ijaw nation, who want to throw the entire Niger Delta into civil disobedience.
“We have also intercepted intelligence that other ethnic nationalities are planning counter protests, which may lead to bloodshed. What will it profit Ekerefe to see the blood of innocent Ijaw youths shed on the streets of the Niger Delta?”
He queried the motive behind Ekerefe’s desperation for protest against the appointment of Akwa describing it as hypocritical.
He said: “Why is Ekerefe desperately and hypocritically obsessed about the appointment of Akwa? Is it because he is not from core Ijaw Bayelsa? The same Ekerefe did not think of leading youths to protest against Keme Pondei and his inglorious reign of the dissolved Interim Management Committee (IMC) of NDDC.
“Even when a probe of the National Assembly revealed massive mismanagement of funds meant for Niger Delta under Pondei, Ekerefe and his co-travellers did not block the smallest street in Yenagoa to demand for his removal. Obviously he supported Pondei because he is from core Ijaw Bayelsa and he is now opposed to Akwa because he is from minority or non-core Ijaw of Akwa Ibom.
“We understand that those, who have given Pondei a false impression that he could be favoured to lead a new board of NDDC if Akwa is sacked are behind Ekerefe’s desperation for protest. Those backing him have also assured him that he will be appointed an adviser to Pondei if he returns as the Manging Director, NDDC. But we want to tell Ekerefe that Pondei will never return to NDDC in any capacity.
“In fact, we are calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and prosecute Pondei over allegations of financial rascality levelled against him while in NDDC.
“As a matter of fact, Ijaw youths should not allow the likes of Ekerefe to endanger their lives. As IYC President and his council has said no protest in the name of IYC will be allowed against NDDC before the stakeholders’ meeting. Those, who may be deceived to disobey this directive will be doing so at their peril. We will be on ground waiting for them.
“We want to warn parents to take this directive seriously and advise their children and wards to stay away from any protest called by Ekerefe and his co-travellers, who want to see the blood of Ijaw youths shed on the streets of Niger Delta”.