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Diete-Spiff Heads INC Reconciliation Panel
The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson, has waded into the crisis rocking the Ijaw National Council (INC) by assembling leaders of thought in the Ijaw nation to request their assistance and support to help in resolving the issues affecting the Ijaw ethnic nationality.
At the end of the meeting which lasted several hours in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, Dickson, inaugurated a 20-member Ijaw National Reconciliation Committee (INRC), with the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff as chairman while the former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Sir Gabriel Toby, is to serve as vice chairman.
The governor also appointed activist, Dr. Felix Tuodolor, as the secretary of the committee, which also has Gen. John Yeri (rtd) and Senator Inatimi Rufus-Spiff as members.
The other members are Gen. Cletus Emein (rtd), Dr. Amba Ambaowei, Prof. Kimse Okoko, Prof. Ayibaemi Spiff, Chief Francis Doukpolagha, Prof. Nimi Briggs, Prof. Joseph Ajienka, Arch. I.E.I Ette and Mrs Rose Obuoforibo.
The rest are Dr. Silas Eneyo, Chief Joshua Fumudoh, Wing Comdr. P.Y. Biakpara (rtd), High Chief Francis J. Williams, Prof. Christopher Deme and Barr. Felicia Ajagu.
Dickson, while inaugurating the committee, said “all is not well” as the conflicts and disagreements arising from individual interests have led to the polarisation of the Ijaw nation.
Dickson stated that, a house divided against itself cannot stand and, therefore, emphasised that the time had come to fashion out ways to holistically address all the challenges, particularly those that are internal.
He said, “a number of things are not right about us, about our zone, and also the contradiction in our nation. And, in all of these, our people must develop a coherent approach as to how we can resolve these issues and move forward.
“Interestingly, you all are not new to these challenges. All of you have been saddled in one form of responsibility or the other, and you have always fought to protect the Ijaw national interest”.
Dickson admitted that, disagreements are normal within a family or organisation, but argued that the end point must be to arrive at an acceptable position that will satisfy the yearnings of all parties.
For the INC, he lamented the lingering leadership crisis, which he said has weakened the agitation of the Ijaw nation, using that platform, and charged the committee to work within six terms of reference to chart a way forward.
He described the INC as a unique organisation with so much hope and promise, which some of the leaders have laboured so hard to keep, and wondered why drastic steps should not be taken to make it bounce back to national reckoning.
Just as he intervened and resolved the crisis in the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Dickson, who gave the elders and leaders a two-week provisional time to come up with a document, said they can replicate same in the INC and the Ijaw nation at large.
Dickson expressed optimism that at the end of the crucial assignment, the Ijaw nation will bounce back and put to shame, those who think they will remain in disarray forever.
“We may be down, but by the time the leaders will be through with their work, it will be very clear that we were only down, but not out”, he added.
In his acceptance speech, Chairman of theý Ijaw National Reconciliation Committee (INRC) and Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff commended the governor for his timely intervention, and assured him that they will work to ensure that everyone and group are reconciled.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.