Politics
2019: We Will Back Any Candidate Who Will Restructure Nigeria – Ijaw Leaders
Prominent Ijaw leaders, including the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Seriake Dickson; Deputy Governor of Delta State, Mr Kingsley Otuaro; elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, as well as political leaders of Ijaw extraction yesterday vowed to reject any presidential candidate in 2019 who does not support the restructuring of the country.
Other leaders of thought who converged on Kiagbodo, Delta State, the country home of Chief Clark, to take a definite position on the raging call to restructure Nigeria were former Minister of Aviation, Alabo Graham Douglas, ex-Minister of Police Affairs, Chief Broderick Bozimo as well as National Assembly members and traditional rulers.
After the meeting which lasted over four hours, Dickson said the leaders took a critical look at the issue of restructuring and took further steps to reaffirm their position that restructuring was a matter of survival to the Ijaw people.
According to Dickson, the meeting resolved that Ijaw people who are the most affected by the current situation in the country would only vote candidates with genuine and demonstrable support for restructuring irrespective of political party.
Special Adviser on Media Relations to the governor, Mr.Fidelis Soriwei, said in a statement that the leaders insisted that the next general election would be a referendum on restructuring across Ijaw land.
“The next election is going to be a referendum on restructuring because it affects the well being and survival of our people. We will support the candidates who are genuinely committed to the issue of restructuring,” the governor said.
While lauding the work of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee on restructuring led by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, the Ijaw leaders called on President Muhammadu Buhari to show the requisite courage by setting in motion the legislative framework to ensure implementation of the report before 2019.
The leaders thereafter set up a committee on the issue comprising five representatives each from the three zones- the West, the Central and the East which has three weeks to submit its work.
“We have also examined the subject matter of restructuring. People shouldn’t play politics with the issue of restructuring. It is about the survival and wellbeing of our people, it is about the stability of Nigeria. It is far more beyond politics, the Ijaws are passionate about it.
“We commend all Nigerians from wherever they come from who are in support of this issue of restructuring. Concerning the recommendations of the APC committee, we call for sincere commitment, we call on the President to lead the charge to restructure the country which will lead to an equitable just and fair Nigeria,” Dickson said.
The leaders said all they wanted was a restructured country within the context of a corporate, united and peaceful Nigeria that guarantees equal right for all Nigerians, adding that only restructuring can guarantee peace in the country.
Also in attendance were Ambassador Godknows Igali, Prof. Dagogo Fubara, Prof Nimi Briggs, Prof Joe Ajienka, Prof C. Dime, Prof Steve Azaiki, Dr Pius Sinebe, Chief Wellington Okrika, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw Affairs, Dressy Dressman and a host of other Ijaw leaders.
In his comments, Clark stressed that restructuring was beyond politicking, insisting that any presidential candidate who was opposed to restructuring would face rejection in Ijaw land during the election.
Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), yesterday expressed delight over the el-Rufai report, especially the portion that recommends state ownership of onshore mineral resources, including oil.
“This is clearly not the whole of what we want because we desire total control of our resources onshore and offshore, but it is certainly a giant leap towards what we have always agitated for as Ijaw people.
“However, we worry that this may be political and not backed by sincerity. Recently, the federal government promised the clean-up of Ogoni land and till date we have not seen the funding of that programme and for unacceptable reasons.
“If the APC-led federal government is sincere, let them show sincerity by immediately setting up various committees and put to work all stakeholders to ensure the recommendation is achieved in the shortest possible time before the 2019 elections.
“If not we would see this as one of its numerous strategic scams. We are also calling on all southern members of the National assembly to take this up as a project”, a statement by Alfred Kemepado, Secretary General of IYC said.
Also, in a statement by Daniel Dasimaka, the IYC Spokesman, the youths applauded the “far-reaching” recommendations by the committee.
“The Ijaw people are not completely in agreement with the recommendation which still vests ownership and control of offshore petroleum resources on the federal government, after all these years of marginalisation; because the oil producing communities who live on the banks of Rivers where the offshore resources are located suffer from the negative effects of oil and gas exploration and exploitation.
“While we commend the el-Rufai Committee for its painstaking efforts and bold recommendations, in the same vein we request the committee to revisit and expunge the vesting of the right to ownership and control of our offshore resources on the federal government,” the IYC argued.
Henry Bonaventure
January 31, 2018 at 11:21 pm
This is how baboon slave think. Instead of baboon to gather his fellow slaves to fight for freedom, it instead wanted another man to do it.
Mike Napo
January 31, 2018 at 6:58 pm
Evil
Cy Israel
January 31, 2018 at 5:59 pm
Mumu man ,,,u won’t respect ur Age
Eljon Isong
January 31, 2018 at 5:50 pm
Still reasoning like a chilɗ
Ademuyiwa Adeyemi Isaac
January 31, 2018 at 5:17 pm
So That They Will Bring Money For You To Share Among Your People.No Restructuring,No Election.
McChuqs Kings
January 31, 2018 at 4:57 pm
Be ready to be fooled again Edwin Clerk.
No wonder they said that a fool at 40 is a fool forever…
Tobechukwu Adunigwe
January 31, 2018 at 2:24 pm
Yes Now u are talking
Nwa Chineke Chidozie
January 31, 2018 at 2:15 pm
Old fool! When you vote him in and he fail to restructure then u will turn to goat of Ijaw.
Okey Ugwu
January 31, 2018 at 1:55 pm
U stupid this fools ur mumu never do after voting before resturing this man is evil ur not speaking the mind of IJAW people
Mgboo Ugochukwu Promsy
January 31, 2018 at 1:31 pm
Don’t be device by a promis from APC in 2019
Folarin Aje
January 31, 2018 at 10:37 am
Good Comment
Enoch Ekpenyong
January 31, 2018 at 9:24 am
My ijaw friends on this forum, lets not allow clark become d 21st century judas iscariot. All we want is Biafra and d freedom of all its ethnic nationalities .any one that wants to join d zoo should do so alone and become islamized. Biafrans are Judeo-Christians. We are children of Jehovah d light of d world, and Africa in particular. God bless Biafra.
Chuka Destiny Nwojiji
January 31, 2018 at 9:08 am
What a mad man?!
Sabo Alh Bukar
January 31, 2018 at 9:07 am
Oh, but you forgot “restructuring”, when your “Godson”, Jonathan was in power? You forgot to push through the restructuring agenda, but was busy playing godfather to the looting agenda. Well done, Edwin Clarke!!
Ikechukwu 'Goldman' Okolie
January 31, 2018 at 9:03 am
Fool @ 80,,,
Mike Uzor
January 31, 2018 at 9:03 am
This man has no credibility
Uzoma Benyah
January 31, 2018 at 8:39 am
Old fool
Marshal Moc Okolie
January 31, 2018 at 8:39 am
See ur mouth, u don’t hv candidate of ur own?
Rotimi Olu
January 31, 2018 at 8:31 am
We should remove the idea of expecting so much from the govt and try to think inward
Rotimi Olu
January 31, 2018 at 8:30 am
I think restructuring shld stat from individual, state, then the country,
Akuatuegwu Okenwa
January 31, 2018 at 8:27 am
You can be nigeria forever. But we want biafra please
Akuatuegwu Okenwa
January 31, 2018 at 8:27 am
Useless mad man saboteur
Emmanuel Kingable
January 31, 2018 at 8:18 am
Keep on dreaming until the end of time, even you Edwin Clark that is talking if you get to power you will not restructure this country.
Mazi Mike Ikeh
January 31, 2018 at 8:18 am
We will back any liar that will remix his lies… wat a shame
Icee Age
January 31, 2018 at 8:18 am
WHEN YOU FINISH BACKING HIM THEN HE WILL ABANDON YOU AND YR RESTRUCTURING.
Ugo Albert
January 31, 2018 at 8:17 am
No hausa fulani man is ready for restructuring Maan, don’t be deceived by political promises
Solo Nemeze
January 31, 2018 at 8:16 am
Politicians: how una go take know who will restructure Nigeria?
Mack Chanchin'g
January 31, 2018 at 8:13 am
this old man don’t understand what is really going on in Nigeria
Michael Obeta
January 31, 2018 at 8:18 am
Don’t mind them
Ibi Ebei
January 31, 2018 at 8:10 am
This man has lost his senses, are you trying to play us into the lion mouth? Please your time and reasoning has expired just keep quite and let young generation to do the right thing. And any youths or militant that is working with Edwin Clark and company are deceivers.
Vincent Kaonyeasuya Ambrose
January 31, 2018 at 8:08 am
I gree
Raphael Anyanwu
January 31, 2018 at 8:05 am
Useless old fool has bribe for campaign again thief Edwin at your age your grandchildren are correcting you what to do right and fighting for freedom from slavery,restructuring will not happen or help you but only Biafra’s referendum and restoration will save you.
It'z Marriss Kovnesky
January 31, 2018 at 8:14 am
you can take your wretched cursed red soil biafraud drug pedllers republic to hell and meet sex freak false prophet Mohamed. idiot
Ome Ngboji
January 31, 2018 at 7:59 am
How will you know that candidate?.
Mustapha K Yusuf
January 31, 2018 at 7:49 am
All These Talk Is Because Of Oil
Frank Zoe
January 31, 2018 at 8:13 am
Which i know Nigeria would have divided if the oil where to be in the north..
Mustapha K Yusuf
January 31, 2018 at 8:42 am
Honestly Speaking If Oil Is Belong To Igbo, Yoruba , Hausa , Nigeria Would Have Divided Long Ago The Only Reason That Kept It United Oil Which All The Mension Tribes Are Eyeing Is Belongs To Minority
Evangelist Frank
January 31, 2018 at 9:18 am
Mustapha the oil belongs to the Igbo’s all the Igbo States are in Niger Delta region so be guided.
Ben Dike
January 31, 2018 at 7:38 am
Its president buhari that will do that. APC have already started campaign for restructuring.
Steve Chigozie
January 31, 2018 at 7:33 am
Flog a dead horse all you want, e don die finish. Wait for restructuring your children’s children are waiting for you
Idoko Jude
January 31, 2018 at 7:33 am
No candidate from north will restructure nigeria, the only solution to nigeria is divide this country let everybody know their father land
Ugwu Brendan Onyebuchi
January 31, 2018 at 7:31 am
Trash
Afam Okoye
January 31, 2018 at 7:26 am
South South sometimes i wonder what’s coming out your elites
It'z Marriss Kovnesky
January 31, 2018 at 8:08 am
afam what is wrong with what they said ? resource control is our goal in the niger delta so any person who can make that to happen will be the man
Shijja'uddeen Yahaya Sfn
January 31, 2018 at 7:20 am
Restructuring will not solve nigeria’s problems,mark my words.
Moses Okhagbuzo
January 31, 2018 at 8:40 am
What will solve Nigeria’s problems then,since Restructuring will not?Is it your saint Buhari?
Micheal Aligwekwe
January 31, 2018 at 7:15 am
You are deceiving yourself Edwin Clark, how will you know a candidate that will restructure Nigeria? Born to be slave like you, you lack the courage to stand on your feet and save your region, coward.
Anthony Bassey
January 31, 2018 at 7:12 am
Hmmmm, like who? Believing on the same fulani people? You are dreaming
Ignatius Igidi
January 31, 2018 at 7:11 am
Wrong move Pa Clerk, restructuring to confederations is paramount before elections, they can only promise and fail. This regime should step down on May 29 for a national government that will in.. Turn set the motions for restructuring.
Aliyu Usman Ibrahim
January 31, 2018 at 7:10 am
Just hoply emback Eng. Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso former governor of kano state with a total trust that your aims and ambitions will defenetly be fulfiled
Marshall Francis Dauntless
January 31, 2018 at 7:03 am
Wrong way again. Stop fooling yourself. United States says in last election that took Goodluck down that they will only support any candidate who will fight and stop boko haram . But until today their buhari can’t even stop boko haram but keep on releasing the ones arrested by Goodluck government. Oga I know you have collected another money to campaign for one person . We will know soon.
Uche Chidiebere Joe
January 31, 2018 at 7:01 am
Who will or starts? Nigeria does not keep promise