The Chairman of the Eastern Zone of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Ambassador Prince Datolu Sukubo, has called for calm, unity, and responsible leadership among Ijaw leaders, warning against actions capable of dividing the Ijaw nation.
Sukubo made the call in a statement where he expressed concern over what he described as a gradual drift from the shared identity and values that have historically given the Ijaw people strength and influence within Nigeria.
According to him, issues such as pipeline surveillance contracts should not be allowed to create divisions among the people, stressing that such matters, whether centralized or decentralized, are far less important than rebuilding unity and strengthening internal cohesion within the Ijaw nation.
He therefore urged key Ijaw leaders, particularly the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, and the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to convene an urgent high-level meeting of Ijaw leaders, elders, and traditional rulers.
The meeting, he said, would help foster understanding and address the growing wave of public disagreements and exchanges involving prominent leaders and traditional institutions within the Ijaw nation.
Sukubo emphasized that the strength of the Ijaw people has always been rooted in collaboration and collective purpose, noting that unity is particularly crucial at a time of significant changes in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
He pointed out that with the ongoing divestment of federal government equity in oil assets, Ijaw states and stakeholders must strategically position themselves to acquire stakes in oil blocks, thereby ensuring that host communities benefit more directly from the resources found in their land.
Describing the present moment as a defining one for the Ijaw people, the IYC Eastern Zone chairman urged leaders and stakeholders to rise above divisions and focus on a common vision of economic empowerment, dignity, and self-determination.
He also cautioned that the Ijaw nation must remain vigilant and protect its collective interests from external forces seeking to take undue advantage of its resources.
Sukubo further urged all stakeholders to prioritize dialogue, unity, and strategic leadership in order to safeguard the future of the Ijaw people.
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