NDDC Board: Ijaw youths suspend protest

By Ebi Perekeme 

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) on Friday announced the suspension of the three days protests staged against the refusal of the Federal Government to inaugurate a substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) after the expiration of the 30-day ultimatum.

The spokesman for the council, Ebilade Ekerefe who announced the suspension during a press briefing in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State said that the suspension will take effect from 5 pm on Friday.

He explained that the decision to suspend the action was reached after consultations involving the leadership of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural body, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), and other critical stakeholders.

The spokesman for the council, Ebilade Ekerefe who announced the suspension during a press briefing in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State said that the suspension will take effect from 5 pm on Friday.

He explained that the decision to suspend the action was reached after consultations involving the leadership of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural body, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), and other critical stakeholders.

Ekerefe described the protests as effective, saying that the council was happy with the active participation of Ijaw youths in all the zones and clans across the region.

He said, “At the expiration of the ultimatum, the planned protest was effectively carried out across the region.

The IYC leadership is satisfied with the level of compliance of its members in all clans and zones across the region.

“After a thorough examination of the progress made so far and in due consultation with critical stakeholders across the entire Ijaw nation and, especially with the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), council hereby directs the suspension of the three-day long protest with effect from 5pm today, Friday 28th May, 2021.

“The leadership of council at the zonal chapters and clan levels are hereby informed to act accordingly and await further directives on the way forward.”

It would be recalled that Ijaw youths under the auspices of the IYC on Wednesday commenced protests following the expiration of the 30 days notice given the Federal Government to reconstitute the NDDC board or have the region paralysed.

The placard-carrying youths, who flew IYC flags, blocked the Mbiama section of the East-West Road and shut down the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt and its state offices in Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom.