2023: INC list conditions to support Presidential candidates

President of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, has, listed conditions to attract Ijaw votes by Presidential candidates of political parties, just as he constitutes a Political Engagement Council to pursue the mandate.

According to a statement by National Publicity Secretary of INC, Engr. Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, Prof. Okaba is the Chairman of the Council, with all NEC members, three nominees from each zone, one nominee from each chapter, and one nominee from each recognised Ijaw association, as members.

The council’s terms of reference include, to aggregate and promote the Ijaw national interest, negotiate with the presidential candidates of the various political parties, lobby the presidential candidates for a review of revenue allocation for host communities of oil and gas, lobby for restructuring of the country based on the principle of true federalism, lobby for the creation of more Ijaw states and for any other interest of the Ijaw nation.

Okaba also recently inaugurated a 13-man Contact Sub – Committee with Atamuno Atamuno as Chairman with the mandate to discuss Ijaw collective conditions and positions with the presidential candidates of the political parties.

Other members are Alaowei B. Bozimo, Chief Timi Alaibe, Dr. Week Doodei, Chief Amagbe Kentebe, Chief P. Biakpara, Pastor Ifie Bribena, Mrs. Bomo Fetepigi, Annkio Briggs, Dr. Rose Oboforibo, D. Kekemeke, Prince Ebitimi Amgbare and Sam Oruopa, who will serve as Secretary.

The Council is mandated to discuss and negotiate restructuring of the governance of the Nigerian state, resource control, a review of the Petroleum Industry Act, environmental and ecological degradation occasioned by fossil oil exploration activities, ocean surge and shoreline erosion.

The Council is also to discuss the creation of more states for the Ijaw nation, implementation of the NDDC Act and constitution of a substantive board of the NDDC, release of the statutory allocation due to the NDDC from inception till date, as well as proper funding of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.