2011: INC Mobilises Ethnic Groups For Jonathan

Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Odein Ajumogobia (right), presenting a cheque of $200,000 (N30 million) to his Ugandan counterpart, Mr Sam Kuteesa, as Nigerian Government’s donation to the victims of Bududa landslide in Uganda, yesterday.

As part of moves to galvanise full support for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 elections, the umbrella body of all Ijaws worldwide, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) says it has begun consultation with ethnic minorities in the country.

President of INC, Dr Atuboyedia Obianime dropped the hint on Saturday at the inaugural ceremony for the fifth executive council of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) in Port Harcourt.

Dr Obianime disclosed that it was in consultation with Ethnic minorities of Middle belt led by Chief Solomon Lar.

The INC boss stated that a network with other ethnic groups was crucial for the actualisation of Jonathan’s 2011 presidency, which according to him, was the biggest opportunity for the Niger Delta to occupy the position of number one citizen in the country.

In his words, “ We have no choice. No Goodluck Jonathan, No Presidency”.

He explained that the decision by the body to support Dr Jonathan to run for the presidency was for the good of the Ijaw people.

Dr Obianime who hailed the IYC for projecting the Ijaw people’s agitation, however said that time had come for the body to review its tactics.

He advised that the group should adopt a more mature approach of pursuing its agenda in order not to derail from the vision and goals of the INC, the parent body.

Earlier in his remarks, new IYC president, Miabiye Kuromiene noted that the body still remained glued to its agitation for better resource management and equity in the country.

He declared, “: we have made this distinction clear and we will make it again here: Our non-negotiable God-given right to determine our own development is not the same as the Nigerian states non-negotiable constitutional duty to develop all of Nigeria of which Ijawland and the rest of the Niger Delta is only a sub-space”.

Kuromiema maintained that all federal government’s interventionist policies must be marched with genuine concrete determination to develop the region.