TEXT OF A PRESS BRIEFING BY IJAW YOUTH COUNCIL ON THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED RE-RUN ELECTION IN BAYELSA STATE.

Gentlemen of the Press           

We welcome you all to this Press conference to rub minds with you on our position on the recently concluded rerun election in Bayelsa State, and to reflect on issues in the polity as they concern us. We want to start this address by thanking all of you, the Nigerian media who have inspired and encouraged us in our cause; we appreciate your steadfastness, dedication and commitment to our cause to date.

We believe that the just concluded gubernatorial election in the state was crucial and important, especially to the youths who are the leaders of tomorrow as we needed a leader who will be committed to the developmental aspirations of our people, hence as a major movement in the region, Council therefore mustered courage to monitor and curb the excesses of our youths before, during and after the rerun election with a view to protecting the mandate of the people and to ensure that the entire process is free and fair and also violence-free, having identified that youths have often been confronted by the manipulative role of some political interests, as a result of the high level of poverty in the region.

We have carefully examined the internal conditions in which our people continue to suffer, we have also evaluated the dynamics of the political economy of Bayelsa State as the apple of the Ijaw eye, considering the obstacle to the pace of development and economic growth in the State recently.

We also dedicated efforts and time at mobilizing and sensitizing communities and its people through the 34 Ijaw Clan structures of the Central Zone, on the need to come out en masse and vote in a process that will provide good leadership to our people. These Clan structures cut across the three (3) senatorial districts of the state. We are indeed delighted that the entire process provided Council the unique opportunity of rebuilding the traditional solidarity among the Ijaw People.

 Electorates conducted themselves in a peaceful manner in Communities our Monitoring teams visited; Yenagoa city, Kaiama, Odi, Sagbama,Ekeremor, Aleibiri, Peretorugbene, Ndoro, Ekpetiama, Fangbe, Okpoama, Brass, Nembe, Ogbia, Oporoma and some oCommunities in Southern Ijaw, to mention just a few.

Having been fully involved in the entire process we stand tall to tell the world that indeed the rerun election in Bayelsa State was quite credible, free and fair compared to other previous elections in the state. In as much as Council remain non-partisan, we call on all the political parties that participated in the election to accept the results in good faith and embrace the new administration in the interest of the growt bfglh of the state first rather than their political aspiration, as enormous resources that would have been channeled into meaningful development no doubt have been expended in the entire process. The bitter lessons have been learnt, it is time to forge ahead.

We have been challenged by the Communities to engage the new administration on critical issues as they affect our people; it is our belief that Government will provide the enabling environment for discourse. As a responsible organization we are concerned with critical issues of good governance, absence of justice, equitable and sustainable development and transparency in governance which values we strongly believe can ensure peace in the polity. Council is determined more than ever before to focus on addressing processes and programmes for the well-being of our people; we are setting directions for closer integration of our Communities and increase solidarities among groups. We shall take time out to promote these causes through series of programmes articulated upon the principles enshrined in the Kaiama Declaration.

May we use this medium to call on the Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva to run an all inclusive government by embracing those that lost out in the process, including other stakeholders in and outside the state (Ijaws) as a political leader of Ijaw people. Life and history gave eloquent testimony that human conflicts are never resolved without a trustful give and take on both sides, the task of building Bayelsa State requires burying mega egos and looking emotionally at the bigger picture for the sake of the Ijaw nation, the State cannot develop under a polluted atmosphere. However, we would not fail to commend the Governor for genuinely pursuing peace previously while in office, we implore you to continue with the pace with which you commenced. On our part as young leaders we offer ourselves to assist in addressing issues of conflict and human security, constructive engagement no doubt is the only realistic way forward for successful government.

We also use this medium to show appreciation to the out-gone Acting Governor of the State Rt. Hon. Werinepre Seibarugo for holding forth the peace we have experienced so far in the state during his stewardship as acting governor. However, we would also not fail to thank the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Chief James Jephtah in this direction, for the relative peace in all part of the state most especially in the waterways. Council appreciates the immense moral support accorded us as a non-partisan body in the entire process, and in strengthening the capacity of our noble organization.

Gentlemen of the Press, the peaceful conduct of the election were no doubt as a result of the mechanism Council put in place to check against violence during the process, and we wish to appreciate the political class for their cooperation in this regard. This also demonstrates that Ijaw youths are indeed peace loving people when properly coordinated. All we needed was a proper direction, and so far the present leadership of the IYC led by Dr. Chris Ekiyor has exhibited that quality.

As young leaders, we commit ourselves to working with youths in our various constituencies in the region on the need to embrace dialogue and constructive engagement as solution to the challenges of the Niger Delta.

We thank you for finding out time to be with us; we enjoin you to give fair reporting and analysis of these issues to the generality of the public in your usual courage and virile manner. A lot also depend on you.

We shall from time to time call on you and address you on these and other issues.

Once again thank you very much and God bless you for coming.

Long live Nigeria.

Long live the Ijaw Nation.

Comrd. (Engr.) UDENGS ERADIRI                            Sir JONATHAN LOKPOBIRI

 Secretary-General, IYC Worldwide                                Chairman, IYC Central Zone

       On behalf of the Council Worldwide