…..As IYC, INC declares ‘No Protest in Ijaw Land’
Isaac Money – Yenagoa
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobri on wednesday led a high powered delegation of political leaders of Bayelsa extraction to Yenagoa for a stakeholders forum to dump the August 1, planned nationwide protests against President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
In his speech at the well attended event which took place at the Ijaw House, the melting point of all Ijaw Ethnic activities, Senator Lokpobiri said he was in the state to consult with the governor and other stakeholders to ensure the planned nationwide protest does not get violent.
He appealed to youths from oil producing communities in the Niger Delta to jettison the protest, and however acknowledged that some of the demands of the alleged sponsors of the protest were genuine but appealed for patience to allow the government address their concerns.
He urged youths not to allow faceless agents to set negative agenda for the region rather the region should be at the forefront of setting development agenda for other regions and the Federal Government.
The minister who urged the youths to be patient with President Bola Tinubu because he is a listening President,” noted that “one salient issue raised by those planning these protest is that there is hardship. And this is acknowledged by President Tinubu.it is not however peculiar to Nigeria. All countries of the world are battling with Global inflation.”
The various groups spoke through their leaders at the meeting.
Professor Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), who spoke on behalf of the INC declared that there would be no protest on any Ijaw Land.
Mr. Jonathan Lokpobiri Jr, who is the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) World wide, also spoke on behalf of the IYC, saying “Don’t let anyone set agenda for you because they did not consult us when they were drawing the demands for the protest. And from their list of demands,they did not include any one of our peculiar problem” he said.
Earlier in his meeting with Governor Diri in Government House, the Petroleum Minister thanked Governor Diri for engaging with various socio-cultural groups including youths and student groups to maintain peace in the state.
“We are here to first of all commend you for your exceptional leadership. The world is a global village and all that you are doing here are known all over. So I am here to extend the commendation of Mr. President for the good work you are doing.
“Bayelsa people are known for our peaceful nature. So, I want to thank you for the engagements you have done since the issue of this protest started. I am here to complement what you are doing.”
In his remarks, Governor Diri thanked Lokpobri for giving the state proper representation in the Federal Executive Council.
On the August 1 protest, the governor acknowledged the rights of the people to protest in a democracy but stressed that there must be a good reason, which he argued can be resolved through dialogue.
He said his administration deployed dialogue from the beginning and because of his performance, the people re-elected for another term.
He called on Bayelsans to come to the roundtable to resolve any grievance against government’s policies.
