The National Leadership of the umbrella body of the Ijaw Youths worldwide, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has faulted the moves by some members to stop the conduct of the election of the new executive of the Central Zone of the Council, declaring that the litigation filed contravened the resolution taken at the just concluded peaceful National Convention/election in Oporoza, Warri South West of Delta State.
The resolution which was unanimously passed by all clan heads, delegates, elders and past leaders during the National election which produced a unifying National President, Comrade Peter Timothy Igbifa declared that any member who drag issues of the IYC to Court would be expelled.
Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, who made this clarification shortly after the completion of a “Thank You tour” to Bayelsa State by the National President, Comr. Peter Timothy Igbifa, said the decision by the aggrieved members to disrupt the Central Zone election is illegal and an act which violate the Oporoza elective convention.
According to Ekerefe, though the courts are been empowered by law to adjudicate over disputes, the Convention which is the highest decision making organ of the Council has passed a resolution for its internal matters not to be entertained by any law court.
Comr. Ebilade further stated that any member who institute a court case against Council without exhausting the internal dispute resolution mechanism that will be put in place very soon with credible elders and former leaders will loose its membership and will be declared a persona non grata in Council.
The Spokesman stated that failure to adhere to the triennial Convention resolutions by any individual or courts, the Council will have no choice but to invoke its full powers by calling a National Convention in those court premises within Ijaw land.
The Spokesman appealed for the cooperation of every critical stakeholder as the leadership of Comr. Peter Timothy Igbifa is here to serve Ijaw Nation and not to rule.
On the Central Zone elections, Comr. Ebilade said the national leadership will be monitoring the Central Zone elections very closely even as he charged the Zonal Electoral Committee(ZECO) to replicate the national election that was obtained in Oporoza, which was adjudged to be one of the freest in recent history.
