ON PURPORTED ELECTION, IYC PRESIDENT CALLS FOR CALM, DEMANDS THOROUGH INVESTIGATION ON IKOLI DEATH

ASABA: The duely Elected President of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Barr. Eric Omare, has called for calm amongst Ijaw Youths, describing what transpired in Okrika as a Charade that can't stand the test of time.

He made the call while reacting to the purported IYC Election that held in Okrika Yesterday April 9th 2017, which erected factional leadership of the IYC, and has since been generating mixed reactions, as candidates who participated have continued to decry that the entire process was a conspiracy.

Barr. Eric Omare who made the call on April 10th 2017 via a press release, also demanded that a representative of the IYC be included as part of the team to investigate the gruesome assassination of Real Admiral Ikoli, who was killed in Lagos last week, noting that the circumstances of the murder of Admiral Ikoli demands thorough and transparent investigation.

The Statement reads in full below:

IJAW YOUTH COUNCIL -IYC WORLDWIDE

April 10, 2017

PRESS STATEMENT

" I call on Ijaw youths to remain calm in the light of deliberate efforts by some former leaders and members to factionalize the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC). What transpired yesterday, Sunday the 9th of April, 2017 at Okrika, Rivers State was not an IYC election but a charade by some former leaders of the Council in the name of election. It would definitely not stand the test of time. The IYC had since the 2nd to 3rd March, 2017 conducted its elections and have an existing national executive council under my leadership.

In the coming days, the national executive council of the IYC under my leadership shall use all legitimate means to bring the charade to an end and restore sanity to the Ijaw Youth Council. I call on the Ijaw nation and the general public to completely disregard the outcome of the Okrika charade which was done in fragrant disrespect to competent courts of law. We also call on IYC members to be peaceful and not to take laws into their hands in trying to express their grievances. We shall follow due process in our efforts to address this deliberate effort to factionalize the IYC.

In another development, the IYC demand that it should be included as part of the team to investigate the gruesome assassination of Real Admiral Ikoli, who was killed in Lagos last week. The circumstances of the murder of Admiral Ikoli demands thorough and transparent investigation. The Ijaw ethnic nationality demands to be part and parcel of the investigation in order to unravel the real cause of the death and those behind it. We therefore call on the military authorities to include a representative of the Ijaw ethnic nationality as part of the investigative team to ensure transparency in the process".

The Statement was Signed by Barrister Eric Omare, President, IYC.

Meanwhile, here are the names of the Newly Elected 7th IYC National Executives:

1. President - Barr Eric Omare
2. Deputy President - Iyerifama Godswill Jaja
3. Secretary General - Ogede Embele -Akpo Parkins
4. Assistant Secretary General- Elaye Vivian Offeh
5. Director of Mobilisation - Kokoimgbi Abraham Ebibobra
6. Spokesperson - Barr .Henry Iyalla
7. Treasurer - Wabiye Idoniboyeobu
8. Financial Secretary - Frank Magada
9. Legal Adviser - Barr Tare Porri
10. Organizing Secretary - Marcus Ebikemiyen
11. Woman Leader - Yabrifa Jennifer Oliver.

They were elected after a duely constituted and well attended convention.