By Emem Idio, Yenagoa
Ijaw Youth Council President IYC Worldwide Peter Igbifa has urged the youth of Ijaw to come together and have a common goal for the development of the Ijaw nation, as a house that war against itself will can stand.
Igbifa, who stated this in his New Year’s message to the youth of Ijaw, said that the youth of Ijaw must break free from the political divide and face in unity the collective challenge of the marginalization and militarization of the region.
He said: “It is my great pleasure to welcome all of you, my great Izon Nation, to the New Year full of new challenges and opportunities. Together we can change the narratives and enhance the courage and strong faith in achieving our collective resource control agenda.
“However, we must be strong together and have a common goal for the betterment of the Ijaw nation. It is high time that we stop persecuting each other and focus on our collective fight for justice and cry out for control of resources; a fight that would be beneficial for everyone and for the entire Niger Delta region.
“As a pillar of the Nigerian economy, we must free ourselves from political division and face in unity head-on our collective challenge of marginalization, constant degradation of our environment, prevailing oppressions; blackmail and militarization of our region.
“To our political class, we urge them to wake up from their lethargy, they are not liked by their counterparts. They are only interested in what they can earn with our lands.
“They have succeeded in truncating the bond of unity that we enjoy. Over the years, there have been many fights between us, disloyalty to the Ijaw cause and backstabbing in the Niger Delta, particularly in the Niger Delta Ministry, NDDC and PAP.
“A house that the war against itself will not resist, thus becoming a tool of mockery in the eyes of the public. Our ancestors rightly expressed that “the dead cannot kill the dead.”
Unfortunately, status epilepticus has existed in our region for more than three decades. However, posterity will judge ”.
