By ONYEKACHUKWU MELUWA, Warri
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) WorldWide on Monday March 19 called on Ijaws in the three Warri Local Government Council Areas to seek elective Offices in the 2019 elections.
IYC President, Barr. Oweilaemi Rolland Pereotubor made the call in a statement signed and made available to AUTHENTIC News Daily.
The IYC also promised to provide all necessary logistic supports to any intending aspirant to the various elective offices.
The IYC hinged the reason for the call on the Ijaws to throw their cats in the ring on the fact that the Ijaws have not occupied any elective office since the creation of Warri as an administrative unit in the colonial era.
“Even in the successive regimes leading to this present dispensation, the Ijaws have not occupied any elective office both at the State and at the federal level.”
“This seemingly political apostasy has robbed the Ijaws in Warri of a great deal of political development as well as some salient democratic rights for over the years. There is need to aspire elective office in order to balance the equation.”
The IYC recalled that since 1999 up to date, the only office the Ijaws have occupied in all the three Warri LGAs is the Chairmanship position in Warri South West LGA.
The IYC described same as an “aberration” given the fact that the Ijaws are more populated than our neighbours.
“It is therefore a clarion call on our brothers in the three Warri LGAs, especially in Warri South West LGA to vie for elective offices in the 2019 general elections. IYC will provide all necessary logistic supports to any intending aspirant to the various elective offices.”
The IYC expressed the belied that the Ijaw representation in government in the Warri Federal Constituency will put paid to the various forms of agitations in Warri.
It adds that,”It will also addressed the political crisis in the area thereby giving every tribe a sense of belonging in the Oil City.
“The Council wish to assure any Ijaw person who is aspiring to contest election in Warri Federal Constituency of its unflinching support. The Ijaw nation will queue behind such aspirant to ensure that we succeed in our political dream.”
The Ijaws are in Warri South-West, stronghold of High Chief Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo Alias Tompolo,Warri South and Warri North Local Government Areas of Delta State.
