By IYC Abuja Chapter
IYC National Election: Open Letter to Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Seriake Dickson, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman Presidential Amnesty Committee, Hon. Kingsley Kuku and Ms. Annkio Briggs Led Eleco
We want to call the attention of well-meaning elders of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), especially the Governor of BayelsaState, Chief Seriake Dickson, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Committee, Hon. Kingsley Kuku and the Eleco Chairman, Ms.Annkio Briggsto the attempt of the Electoral Committee (ELECO) to jettison the decision of the IYC Parliament that gave the Abuja Chapter rights to 10 delegates for election into the National Executive Council. We regard this as a ploy to prevent the chapter from participating in the scheduled election. This is very provocative and against the rule of natural justice, which appears as a gimmick to make the election a hoax. In order to
forestall agitations that may mar the contest and rejection of its outcome in good time, we are appealing for a review of this stance.
The Abuja Chapter, it would be recalled is the only Congress that had maintained civility in its activities and actions, even when some Zones, Clans and Chapters were experiencing in-fighting and bickering, which had led to media wars and almost brought the IYC to disrepute at such occasions. We feel that this orchestrated removal of the Chapter from participation in the election was due to its civility in approach to issues, resort to respect for decorum and its give and take spirit, which we are ready to resist in all known legal means, as people who cannot be cowed to shying away from fighting for our common identity.
In view of this anomaly and as law abiding members of the Council, the Congress of the Abuja Chapter met at an Extra Ordinary emergency Congress on the 5th day of August 2013,at the Glory Land Courts, and the Congress unanimously resolved as follows:
1. That while it is in agreement with the constitution of the Ankio Briggs led Electoral Committee and its time table, it is however, protesting the deliberate
and malicious attempt to DISENFRANCHISE the Abuja Chapter of its delegate’s right.
2. That the Abuja Chapter is totally in agreement with the decisions of the Parliament which had earlier inKpakiama, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, provided for a 10- man delegate for the Chapter. This decision of the Parliament is constitutional, and well taught out, being a statutory body empowered to make law for the IYC.
3. That Congress resolved to resist any attempt by any group of persons to illegally stop its delegates from participating in the election through all known legal means and wish to call on elders of the IYC to bring those towing this line to desist from such forthwith for the interest of peace and tranquility.
4. That Congress, wishes to remind the ELECO that the Abuja Chapter was first constituted on the 10th of September 2007, by Dr. Chris Ekiyor led Exco with a Care
Taker Committee that eventually midwifed the present administration on the 16th of 2011 under the watch of the outgoing National Executive Council, with certificate of returns duly issued and adorned with all the rights and privileges that can be so acceded to a Chapter and had in afore time attended meetings where formal invitation were sent to the chapter.
5. That Congress also wants to remind the ELECO that some of its decisions were inconsistent with the rule of natural justice and fairness. For instance, why the ELECO found it expedient to grant waivers for the Congress’s election for the position of an incoming president to hold in the state of the would-be president, which it evoked as a Special Procedural considerationfor the election, it could not also take similar action in matters that relate to granting access to Abuja Chapter of the Congress to participate.
6. That Congress having noted these anomalies, call on the elders to address these issues urgently in order to give the election of the forthcoming National Executive Council the required credibility it deserves.
Signed
Francis Tabai Chairman……………………………
Christian Tamunoiminabo Vice Chairman…………………..
Patrick Tamara Secretary General………………………….
BlueJackMinasigha Asst. Secretary…………………………
EbibolokaemeEregbene Mobilization Officer………………….
DoubraWasini Women Leader……………………………….
TelemaIkobirima Treasurer…………………………………..
Presley Agidee Students Representative………………………
Marcus Ebikemiyen Financial Secretary……………………..
Stakeholders
Kenneth Alagba Former Chairman…………………….
BomaIbiene Vice Chairman…………………………….
BrayeOdiowei Former Secretary……………………..
ElayeOweife Former Mobilization Officer…………….
BradusAbada………………………….
Victor Soso…………………………
TariSambo
Collins Dide
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– with Henry Dickson Bayelsa Restoration and 17 others.
