INC And Leadership Question

Considering the political trauma the Ijaw nation has suffered since 1914, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) should be seen making spirited demand for reparation, remediation and restitution of all damages, wrongs and losses of the past and not begging cap in hand. After all, this is the genesis of the Ijaw mandate that blossomed into the INC in 1994.

For the first eight years, the zeal and loyalty of the INC founders translated into plans for state demands and demands for local governments. Here, significant progress was made. New Ijaw local government areas were created in Akwa Ibom and Ondo and among others. For all these, the INC consulted extensively with the communities and carried out the people’s mandate to make all Ijaw proud and united.

This was followed by the fallow years when the INC stepped aside for the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) to take on the defence of the Ijaw course in full dose. With God on our side, the IYC rose to the challenge and attained feats unthinkable. Sometimes, I wish we had no INC and only had IYC. Better still, the INC should go to school and learn from the MOSOP and the IYC. The INC is not a government and cannot, on its own, create States. It should therefore work with the various movement and not arrogantly dictate preferences.

With the election that brought a new national executive chaired by Dr Obianime, joy filled my heart, if for nothing else, just for the change of guard. I even joined the bandwagon of people who congratulated the President and his tea. I expected much from them until the president’s unguarded utterances were printed on the pages of newspapers. I still believe he will soon withdraw or deny some statements credited to him. Within just weeks of his election to this high office, he is seen to be slow to listen and quick to speak. He seems to be in a haste to make up for the “years of void” and cannot wait to consult. Armed with the “know it all syndrome”, he needs no mandate from the Ijaw masses.

Put succinctly, his message is clear. One, that he has all the knowledge for this job and need’s not consult anybody; two that he is an imposed leader and owes Ijaws nothing; and lastly, that his primary duty is relay “his master’s voice” to the Ijaw masses.

This raises some questions: Who is his master? What are the goals of his master?

As a foot-soldier in this Ijaw state demand campaign, I am privileged to know the ultimate wishes of the Ijaw people. Collectively, both at home and in the diaspora, our mandate to the national executive is the creation of four new Ijaw States in addition to the existing one (Bayelsa). No one pretends that Federal Government will not resist such demands. What we want is consistency in our spokesmen. We are not without friends within and outside Nigeria. When we vacillate between options, our seriousness becomes doubtful.

Meanwhile, we have been informed that money was allocated to the INC to harmonise the three movements within the congress. As stakeholders, we deserve to be told how much and how it was spent. Minji-Se Movement is not everybody or anybody, but a special and significant stakeholder. So far, we have been denied our fundamental rights because some people claimed we attended cheap community schools and not grammar schools. In these days of due process, that distinction is irrelevant.

There is therefore need for the INC to consider where we are coming from and avoid costly mistakes. They must carry all along and not underrate any group.

Daminabo wrote in from Yenagoa