The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) in Western Zone, in collaboration with other pressure groups in Delta state, have issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Commission (DESOPADEC) over what they describe as the ‘high handedness’ of Dr. Paul Bebenimibo.
According to the IYC, Dr. Bebenimibo, who represents the Ijaw ethnic nationality in the DESOPADEC board, has been found unrepentantly wanting on several occasions.
The IYC ultiumatum was contained in a communiqué released after an emergency meeting presided over by National Executive Council members of the Western Zone of the group, the Western Zone leadership, MEINBUTUS, the Delta Ijaw Comrade Community, and other critical stakeholders of IYC in the state, on Saturday, October 16, 2021, in Warri, Delta State.
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The emergency meeting was preceded by several oppressive measures of the Commissioner to the Ijaws, most recently is the assault and dehumanizing of the Youth President of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom, despite swearing an oath to protect their interest in the Commission.
Some of the resolutions reached at the emergency meeting include a public apology by Dr. Paul Bebenimibo to the assault victim and payment of his hospital bills, and the immediate release of the monthly subvention to Ijaw Youths from DESOPADEC, which the Commissioner has refused to adhere to since assuming office.
The communiqué titled “IYC GIVES DESOPADEC 7 DAYS ULTIMATUM STARTING FROM MONDAY 18TH OCTOBER, 2021” and signed by the Western Zone Chairman of IYC, Comrade Dr. Doubra Okotete reads in full: “Arising from a critical Stakeholders meeting of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone comprising of National Officers of IYC from the Zone, Zonal Officers of IYC, Clan Chairmen of IYC in the Zone, Clan Women Leaders of IYC in the Zone, Former National and Zonal leaders, Organizations registered under IYC and other stakeholders and leaders of IYC, the following decisions were reached:
- The Ijaw Youth Council Western Zone frowns dispassionately at the high handedness of Hon. Paul Bebenimibo (Phd) the Commissioner Representing Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Commission (DESOPADEC) and the detached manner with which he runs this office that is supposed to be a connecting point for the grassroots.
- The Ijaw Youth Council was propelled to call this emergency meeting because all possible avenues to interface with Hon. Paul Bebenimibo as a former Executive Member of IYC in this same Zone, to see how areas of misunderstanding can be settled has been turned down by him including third party mediation.
He sees himself as a god and as such has refused to give listening ear to all strata of leadership in the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality he represent and our option for peace and dialogue over time are evidenced based and seen as a weakness.
- The Ijaw Youth Council is well aware that every ethnic youth bodies are working closely with their representative for the collective growth and development of their region and are also receiving monthly subvention from DESOPADEC as part of DESOPADEC’s commitment to youth development except the IYC because Hon. Paul Bebenimibo has ordered it to be so, apparently in an attempt to divert such funds.
- The way and manner Hon. Paul Bebenimibo is running his office is at opposite direction with the SMART Agenda of Governor Okowa which prioritizes youth development.
- The Ijaw Youth Council Western Zone wish to unequivocally state that we have endured Hon. Paul Bebenimibo’s indifference to us and we will henceforth no longer allow him to shortchange us.
- We also condemn in strong terms, the physical harm and grievous bodily injury done to the Youth President of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom by Policemen attached to Hon. Paul Bebenimibo and at his behest, leaving the victim hospitalized currently in an undisclosed hospital. This is both inhuman and tyrannical and can never be accepted by the IYC.
- The Ijaw Youth Council Western Zone had also received several complaints from individual (Ijaw) traditional rulers over Paul Bebenimibo’s disrespect for our traditional institutions and his refusal to meet with the Ijaw Traditional Rulers Council when invited and council will not tolerate such disrespect for our revered traditional institutions.
- Consequently, we demand as follow; i. We humbly call on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to look into the said brutal treatment done to the Youth President of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom by his appointee Hon. Paul Bebenimibo who is now using state apparatus to oppress the weak. We know the Governor as a man of integrity who detests such oppression as evidenced in the immediate sacking of his former Aide Mr. Friday Eluro who assaulted a Woman. Our call is further reinforced by the Governor’s stance against police brutality during the ENDSARS protest.
- Hon. Paul Bebenimibo should tender a public and unreserved apology to the Youth President of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom and the entire Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom and pay compensation for the hospital bills and injuries suffered by the Youth President.
iii. Henceforth all monthly subventions paid to our sister youth organisations should also be paid to us as we are not the second fiddle, especially as records shows that Ijaws are the second largest oil producing people in Delta State.
- Hon. Paul Bebenimibo is not the first Ijaw son to hold this office and so if he is unwilling to attend to issues of Ijaw Nation that falls within the purview of his Office as DESOPADEC Commissioner Representing Ijaw Ethnic Nationality, then we respectfully advise that he resign forthwith and concentrate on his lecturing which he has never hesitated to tell anyone that cares to listen that he values more than his appointment as DESOPADEC Commissioner, so that other well meaning Ijaw Son either from Gbaramatu or any other clan can step in to deliver the mandate of the office.
- Conclusively, we give the Commission a 7 days ultimatum starting from Monday 18th October, 2021 to wade into this issue and ensure that our demands are met, as the Ijaw Youth Council should not be blamed for the total close down of the Commission, Paul Bebenimibo’s office complex and even the sources by which resources accrue to the Commission, unless our demands are met.”
