The leadership of the Ijaw Youths Council around the world has declared its readiness to close the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, due to the appointment of a sole administrator instead of the core committee.
The group’s national spokesman, Ebilade Ekerefe, said this in a statement Wednesday, praising young Ijawa for their high turnout Monday in the East-West road blockade for more than three hours to protest the appointment of a single administrator.
Ekerefe, who especially thanked the three zone chairmen; Comr. Smart Inodu from the central zone; Chief Frank Akief of the Western Zone and com. Toby James from the Eastern Zone, who joined the national leadership in showing courage and ability during the protest, noted that the protest was not over.
He said, “It is a litmus test against the next protest to be organized by Ijaw young people at NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt to shut down the commission until President Bukhari corrects his misjudgment and appoints a significant committee to monitor developments quickly. in the region as defined by the NDDC Act. “
The spokesman assured the young Ijawa and stakeholders in the region that the IYC would no longer sleep on issues of fundamental regional interest, but would legitimately come out to push for the right things to be done.
Finally, he thanked the security agencies for their professional conduct in the performance of their duties, which greatly contributed to the peaceful demonstrations without theft on the East-West road.
Angry young Ijaws blocked the East-West road on Monday in protest of the appointment of a single administrator instead of a significant NDDC committee.
Protesters, sponsored by the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, gathered at the Mbiama-Yenago strategic junction on the federal highway as early as 6:30 a.m., using trailers, trucks and other items to barricade the road. The situation left thousands of passengers and other road users stranded for about three hours.
Attempts by some armed soldiers with an armored personnel carrier led by Major and former Secretary of Government of the State of Bayels, Dr. Godknows Igali, who was caught at a standstill, to deter the protesters failed.
Most of the early morning passengers were caught at a traffic jam on a normally busy road, which stretches for more than two kilometers on the Bayels and River sections.
Protesters displayed placards reading “Akpabio, focus on your ministry, we will take NDDC headquarters in a few days if not done correctly,” “President Bukhari, please abide by Governor South-South’s request when appointing a significant NDDC plaque.” “and” We don’t want a single administrator for NDDC, “among others. They said appointing a single administration would fuel a crisis in the region.