The leadership of the apex Ijaw social cultural group, the Ijaw national congress(INC) has inaugurated its National Representative Council (NRC).
The Tide learnt that the INC’s national representative council was one of the organs provided for institutionalisation by its constitution.
In his opening speech at the ceremony which was held at the secretariat of the INC in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa state, President of the INC, Prof. Benjamin Ogelekeme Okaba, described the Ijaws as an ethnic group naturally endowed with both natural and human resources.
He noted that it was high time Ijaws started taking their destinies in their hands.
Following recent agitations by other ethnic nationalities in the country towards charting a new course, he Ijaws can not be left out, hence, the inauguration of the representative council.
According to him, the council would together with the National Executive Council (NEC) and other organs of the body fast track the processes of better unification and rapid socioeconomic transformation, development and self-determination of Ijaw land.
The national representative council (NRC) of the Ijaw national congress functions as its legislative arm, this is even as there were indications that it would also carry out functions pertaining to the approval of the appropriations of the INC as well as perform oversights on the national executive council of the body, respectively.
The INC President, who also stated that plans have reached advanced stages for the body under his leadership to provide Ijaws with a scientific map of all Ijaw Communities, noted that his leadership has since engaged the services of cartography consultants towards achieving this feat in the nearest possible future, maintaining that the INC would continue to partner other sister ethnic groups in and around the Niger Delta region and beyond to salvage the people of the area out of oppression and all forms of socioeconomic and political deprivations.
“I’m indeed so delighted to warmly welcome you all to this unique occasion which marks a significant milestone in our corporate efforts to reposition, recalibrate and strengthen congress in its entirety, to deliver on our core mandate to defend, promote and protect the Ijaw identity, Ijaw unity, unification and solidarity freedom from political, economic and social injustices and pursue the Ijaw cause of self-determination to its logical conclusion.
“While, I, on behalf of NEC humbly and profusely apologise for the delay in setting up this all important organ of congress for reasons that were clearly beyond our control, I wish to congratulate you on your well-deserved nomination either as statutory members or representatives of your respective clans and chapters, as bonafide members of the NRC. We’re optimistic that you all possess the requisite content, character, experience and commitment to offer sacrificial services to our father land and by due diligence live up to the expectations of our people, who are in dire need of positive change in our existential realities.
“It may interest you to note that the present national executive council under my leadership has made substantive progress in addressing the need for a composite Ijaw territory, preparation of a scientifically distilled cartographic map and the launch of the all Ijaw online App fixed for 14th, May,2022 as one of the events to mark our one year anniversary”, he said.
Giving an overview of the functions of the national representative council, the national secretary of the INC, Eng. Epipamowei Wodu stated that the council would amongst others provide fora for deliberations on all matters of interest to the Ijaw nation, approve annual budget of Congress, monitor and appraise the implementation of the annual budget by the national executive council of the INC, as well as summon any officer of the national organ of congress to explain any matter connected with his/ her efficiency or loyalty in the performance of duties.
Other functions of the NRC, Wodu mentioned were, the removal of any member of the executive arm of the congress in accordance with the INC constitution, the recommendation of worthy Ijaw Sons and daughters who have distinguished themselves in various fields for Ijaw national honours, the approval of the programme of activities of the national convention each year, discussion and adoption of the resolutions on any matter of urgent interest to the Ijaw nation, as well as initiate issues and mandate any organ of congress to tackle such issues in the interest of all Ijaws with anybody or group of persons, governments, parastatals and companies within or outside Nigeria.
The Tide reports that the newly inaugurated national representative council (NRC) of the INC which has membership drawn from all the three zones of the INC, its clans and chapters saw a Rivers-Ijaw born and Eastern zonal member of the INC, Prince (Dr) Anyanate Kio emerging as leader, while Princess Adesola Ebiseni of the Western zone was sworn-in as Deputy leader, whereas Mr Gabriel Pinasidor Benamaisia of the Central zone clinched the position of the NRC Clerk, respectively.
Meanwhile, in his inaugural speech, the newly sworn-in Leader of the national representative Council (NRC) of the Ijaw national congress(INC), Prince (Dr) Kio has commended the body for finding him worthy to serve as a leader in his present position, pledging his continuous desire to partner the national executive council (NEC) of the INC and other well-meaning Sons and daughters of the Ijaw nation in moving the ethnic nationality forward.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa