SAN FRANCISCO, April 13, (THEWILL) – The Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, on Thursday, inaugurated a nine-man committee to reconcile the warring parties involved in the crisis rocking the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide which has been factionalised.
THEWILL recalls that the IYC has been battling a succession crisis with two factions laying claims to the leadership of the council.
The former President of IYC, formally handed over the mantle of leadership to Eric Omare after he emerged victorious in a convention attended by Ijaw youths in Burutu, Delta State while some Ijaw elders, opposed to Omare, spearheaded a parallel convention in Okirika, Rivers State and elected Oweilaemi Pereotubo as President.
The factions met, on Wednesday, at an event in Warri Delta State to mark the birthday of former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpuompolo, popularly known as Tompolo leading to a violent clash and an abrupt end to the event.
Worried about the development, Dickson on Thursday, speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the reconciliatory committee, said he took a principled position of not supporting any of the faction adding that his concern was to arrest the situation and amicably resolve the disagreements.
He charged the committee members to identify the root causes of the crisis; liaise with all stakeholders with a view to understanding the background of the crisis and proffer solutions and recommendations.
The governor also asked them to provide a platform for mediation; make recommendation on how forestall future occurrence and make suggestions that would help leaders in handling the IYC and other leadership institutions moving forward.
In his response, Chairman of the Committee, Chief Joshua Fumudoh, lauded the effort of the governor to halt the crisis and promote peace among members of IYC promising that the committee would work tirelessly to carry out the charges given them within the stipulated time.
Other members of the committee are Prof. Dagogo Fubara (Vice-Chairman); Amb. Godknows Igali (Secretary); E. I. E. Etteh; His Highness Nimi Adoki; Mrs. Rafi Suowari; High Chief F. J. Williams; and the Bayelsa state Commissioner of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Austin Dressy Dressman.
