Bayelsa Guber Polls: IYC Warns INEC, Security Agencies, Others To Stay Neutral

Foremost Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has warned that it would resist any handpicked governorship candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State.

IYC said that a governor of Bayelsa state that can unite all Ijaw is what Ijaw nation want and not an imposed governorship candidate who would only do the bidding of a group of people.

The radical Ijaw youth group warned that it would vehemently resist any traditional ruler, Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), and security agencies who didn’t stay neutral ahead the Bayelsa governorship election.

The group maintained that anybody who use the name of Ijaw nation or IYC to endorse any of the governorship candidate would have the youths to contend with, saying that traditional rulers, IYC and INC must maintain their neutrality during the  exercise.

IYC’s National President, Eric Omare, a lawyer who was flanked by other leaders of the body gave the warning during a press briefing in Warri, Delta state on Monday.

He said, “The governor of Bayelsa state is dear to all Ijaw communities across the states of the Niger Delta and whoever emerges automatically becomes the Governor General of Ijaw Nation.

“Bayelsa is the only homogenous state in the country therefore it is dear to all Ijaw. The governor of Bayelsa is the political leader. IYC therefore advise that nobody should use the IYC to campaign, endorse any candidate

“Security agencies, INEC and Ijaw traditional rulers should maintain their neutrality in the electoral process. They should not endorse any candidate“, Omare warned.

The IYC President, however appealed to  Ijaw youths to ensure a hitch-free electoral exercise, adding that everyone should be allowed to freely exercise his or her franchise on the day of the election.

According to him, whilst the traditional rulers, security agencies, INEC and other stakeholders are urged to maintain their neutrality, Ijaw youths must “shun any temptation to be used as political thugs during the election”.

He stressed that the Ijaw nation craved for a governor that would emerge from a non controversial election adding that as the only homogenous state in the country “We want a governor of Bayelsa state that can unite all Ijaw”.