Politics
Let’s Differentiate Guinuine Agitation From Criminality – Ijonama
Only recently some deserving sons and daughters of Obolo Kingdom were honoured for their roles in the development of the area. The speaker of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) who also doubles as the President of Andoni Youth Coalition, Rt. Hon. Mkpon Ijonama gave an insight into why they did that, government developmental efforts in Andoni, amnesty programme in Niger Delta and more.
He spoke to The Tide Political Editor, Victor Tew. Exerpts.
You were in the news recently for organising an award ceremony in honour of some distinguished sons and daughter of Andoni. Is that the only thing you say you have achieved as an activist?
I am an Andoni man who has served in the capacity of
a youth leader in the Ijaw nation and I have seen how my other brothers from other zones like the Eastern zone, central zone and the Western zone have been using the platform of youth leadership to drive development and a cordial relationship between the government and the NGOs to the common people and their communities. So I felt I should duplicate such thing in my own community. And you will agree with me that Andoni has been on a security watch where youths have been agitating for development in Andoni. What may be the remote cause of under development in Andoni? Do we really have people who would have changed the lives of the Obolo people if the opportunity is being given to them? The level we are today as the Obolo people, are we really part of Rivers State or part of Akwa Ibom or part of Nigeria? Do we have anything to lay hands on? Some personalities in Andoni have tried as much as they can to attract the attention of government and development to our place but enough opportunity was not given to them.
Some youths in the Niger Delta emulate criminality more than any other people. They believe in government giving amnesty and money. If you shoot gun today, companies operating in your area will give you money. It means gradually we are killing the level of education; we are killing creativity and changing that mindset is a project which requires bringing back the glory of those people who spent time working on the progress and development of Andoni. We need to bring these people back to educate the younger ones. So, the idea of giving out an award arose. We said let’s bring them back to say you have done extremely well.
So who is to blame?
Our generation is to blame, our system has changed. It means we have to develop ourselves, change our orientation towards the positives and you can see that we have given people awards and we are talking about people that have done extremely well, though some of our politicians have tried but we are talking about people that have done above average.
How would you assess the Unity Road project?
As much as I know, construction work on the unity road in Andoni, is very slow.
If that road is completely constructed, then 60% of the problems in Andoni would have been solved. The economy of Andoni will be greatly improved if that road has been done successfully because the road is supposed to link Ngo and Oyorokoto. So, anybody sitting on this project, whatever the name of the contractor maybe, is the enemy of the Obolo people and it is the sole responsibility of the state government to monitor that project because you cannot send your son to school without asking for result at the end of the term.
As a youth leader, what extent have you gone to tackle the issue of under development in Andoni?
When you come out in a place where one man’s view is all and all, you use intellectual means to achieve your aims. By this I mean using the social media to reach out to the governor, to reach out to the President and everyone involved in this development issue. We have written series of letters to different places including the Rivers State House of Assembly, and the National Assembly. We even have a fresh petition to defend next week in the Senate concerning the issue of under development in Andoni, especially on contract jobs that have been awarded to some persons but not carried out. We have over 10 petitions written by Andoni Youth Coalition.
As an Ijaw Youth Council speaker, are you satisfied with the human capacity development in terms of youth development in Niger Delta?
Governors in the region are building roads but the issue of unemployment has been on a low key. Many troublesome youths have been granted amnesty but not really engaged in any form of work because an idle man is the devil’s workshop. If these youths are engaged, the crime rate would be low. Anambra State has the lowest crime rate because everyone is busy there.
And in regards to the physical development in the state, the Governor Wike is trying. We just want the development to be even. The Andoni road project requires a very good company to handle. So I think our leaders can do more for the Andoni people.
We have the mindset of our youths towards criminality. So in that aspect of development, we have failed ourselves and we don’t need government to do it. We need to restructure ourselves to see the way forward, and the way forward is not by shooting guns.
As the speaker of IYC, how well have you impacted on the youth?
Well, I have impacted in so many ways, we all know that in youth activism, you only influence the provision of certain things. That I have done so much. I have provided potable water in Ngo, better than what the state government has ever given to Ngo.
Did you do this with your personal money?
No, I didn’t, I only used the influence of my office to attract these things to my area. Under the platform I am representing now in Andoni, yearly we do go to schools and pay students’ school fees and give out notebooks just to encourage them to study. We are currently working on a magazine for the Obolo people which will be out every three months for people to be updated with happenings in Andoni. In the next two weeks the first edition will be out.
As an IYC leader, how will you want the government to address the development problems in the Niger Delta?
Government needs to be more cautious. For a country that has a constitution, someone will kill innocent people for no reason, and instead of enforcing justice on that person, the government will grant him amnesty and pay him millions of naira. Someone who does not have the least school certificate becomes a multi-millionaire through crime. What impression are we creating for our youths? Hence, they are asking the upcoming children to indulge in crime and get amnesty. These days, we can’t differentiate between cultists and militants because they are all practising criminality. When the agitation of the Niger Delta started, they never attacked anybody in the street, rather they only targeted federal government facilities just to attract attention to Niger Delta. But now, what are these youths agitating for? Killing innocent people. When we differentiate genuine agitation from criminality, we would have solved the problems facing us.
Are you against government negotiating with any genuine militants?
First of all, we should be able to differentiate between the genuine militants and cultists. The militants agitate and fight for the welfare of the Niger Delta people while the cultists are criminally minded people going against the law and attacking innocent people.
Instead of giving amnesty, the criminals should be put behind bars. Genuine militants and their agitations have benefitted the Niger Delta people but the activities of the criminals haven’t helped in anyway. Rather, it has given a false impression to our youths. Government should differentiate between genuine agitators and criminals. As a youth leader, the only power I have is to preach to these youths, let them embrace more of education and give peace a chance so that foreign investors can come and invest in our land. Government on its part has the capacity to create youth empowerment programme so that these youths will not engage in crime.
What is the way forward?
My general advice is peace. Without peace, there will be no development in Andoni; without peace, the companies handling the contracts in Andoni will not be able to carry out their projects; without peace, instead of the companies to engage our people, the money will be used to enlist the services of more security to protect the few lives in the place. So, peace is paramount, it’s fundamental. Without peace, we can’t get good things.
What development plan have you drawn out for your people?
We are currently partnering with a television channel in Ghana, IFN TV, just to run documentaries on the Andoni people and her rich heritage and the Andoni Youth Coalition is the brain behind this partnership. Tourism is our biggest project. We were supposed to travel to Dubai but we were given conditions that will consume over N1 million.
The state chairman of the party, Dr Babandi Gumel, disclosed this in a statement signed and made available to journalists on Saturday.
According to the statement, the Jigawa PDP received news of Alhaji Lamido’s suspension with “profound shock and disappointment”.
The statement added that the suspension, which was reportedly based on allegations that Alhaji Lamido attended meetings capable of undermining party unity, amounts to an affront to justice, internal democracy and the reconciliation efforts recently championed by the PDP leadership.
The party stressed that the exercise of legal and constitutional rights within the party should not be interpreted as an act of disunity. It recalled that Alhaji Lamido approached the court after he was allegedly denied the opportunity to purchase a nomination form to contest the position of National Chairman of the PDP.
The statement further noted that the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, ruled in Alhaji Lamido’s favour by restraining the PDP from proceeding with its national convention until his right to contest was determined.
The Jigawa PDP argued that the suspension appeared to be a punitive action against Alhaji Lamido for seeking judicial redress over an issue on which the court had already found merit.
The party also faulted the decision of the BoT for contradicting recent public statements by its chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, who had emphasised reconciliation within the party, admitted past mistakes and appealed to aggrieved members to return fully to the PDP fold.
However, it maintained that suspending a founding member who sought justice through legal means runs contrary to the spirit of reconciliation and healing publicly advocated by the party leadership.
The chairman said the suspension was premature and prejudicial, as the matter remains before the courts. He also described Alhaji Lamido as one of the few founding fathers of the PDP who has remained loyal to the party without defecting, warning that punishing such loyalty sends a negative signal to other committed members.
The party further argued that the action undermines party unity at a time when the PDP requires cohesion to effectively challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). It also insisted that there is no provision in the PDP constitution that allows for the suspension of a “life member”.
The party called on the BoT to immediately and unconditionally withdraw the suspension of Alhaji Lamido.
It also demanded that the BoT publicly affirm the right of all party members to aspire to leadership positions in line with the party’s constitution and the laws of the country, without fear of victimisation.
It further urged the BoT to retrace its steps, align its actions with its reconciliation agenda, and tender an apology to Alhaji Lamido.
The Jigawa PDP reaffirmed its commitment to a united, democratic and law-abiding Party.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC warned that if proven, such actions would amount to a serious breach of constitutional order, legislative integrity, and public trust.
The organisation noted that Nigeria’s law-making process is clearly defined by the Constitution, stressing that any alteration of a bill after parliamentary passage undermines democratic governance and the principle of separation of powers.
CISLAC further emphasised that taxation has direct implications for citizens, businesses, sub-national governments, and the overall economy. It stated that uncertainty or a lack of transparency in tax legislation could erode investor confidence and raise concerns about accountability and the possible abuse of executive power.
The organisation described the situation as particularly troubling given the rare inclusive, and thorough public consultation that shaped the law’s final provisions prior to its passage.
“This process brought together taxpayers, civil society groups, professional organisations, the private sector, labour unions, local governments, and technical experts, ensuring that diverse viewpoints were considered and carefully balanced.
“Any unilateral changes to these agreed-upon provisions, made outside the established legislative process and without renewed public engagement, not only breach public trust but also violate the fundamental tax principle of representation, which holds that citizens must have a meaningful voice in shaping the laws that govern how they are taxed. Such actions undermine democratic accountability, weaken the legitimacy of the tax system, and risk eroding public confidence”, it noted.
CISLAC expressed particular concern that uncertainty surrounding the authenticity of the tax law, coming at a time when a new tax regime is expected to take effect, could exacerbate the economic hardship already faced by many Nigerians.
It observed that citizens are contending with rising living costs, inflationary pressures, declining purchasing power, and reduced access to basic services, warning that implementing a disputed tax framework under such conditions, risks deepening inequality, discouraging compliance, and fuelling public resentment.
The organisation stressed that tax reforms must be anchored in clarity, legality, fairness, and social sensitivity, cautioning that any tax system introduced without full transparency, adequate public communication, and legislative certainty undermines voluntary compliance and weakens the social contract between the state and its citizens.
As part of its recommendations, CISLAC called on the Presidency to urgently publish the exact version of the tax law assented to, alongside the authenticated copy passed by the National Assembly, to allow for public and institutional verification.
It also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to promptly exercise its oversight powers to determine whether the assented law reflects the will of the legislature, including a review of the enrolled bill process.
The organisation maintained that any discrepancy discovered should be treated as unconstitutional and addressed through lawful means, such as the re-transmission of the correct bill or judicial interpretation where necessary. It further called for an independent review of the process by relevant institutions, including the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and, where required, the judiciary, to establish the facts and assign responsibility.
CISLAC noted that the controversy highlights the urgent need to strengthen safeguards at the legislative and executive interface. It recommended measures such as digital tracking of bills, public access to enrolled legislation, and more transparent assent procedures.
CISLAC emphasised that the issue is not about partisan politics but about safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions. It warned that allowing any arm of government to unilaterally alter laws passed by another sets a dangerous precedent and weakens constitutional democracy.
The organisation urged all parties involved to act with restraint, openness, and fidelity to the Constitution, noting that Nigerians deserve laws that reflect due process, the public interest, and the collective decisions of their elected representatives.
CISLAC added that it will continue to monitor developments and engage relevant stakeholders to promote accountability, transparency, and the rule of law in Nigeria’s governance processes.
