From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has commended individuals and institutions including the six presidential candidates and the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE) for their efforts towards actualising a peaceful and seamless transition of leadership in the Ijaw National Congress (INC).
He gave the commendation during a stakeholders meeting at the weekend in Government House, Yenagoa, where all the candidates gunning for the INC presidency agreed to withdraw all subsisting litigations concerning the Ijaw National Congress election.
Senator Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, also expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Bolade Igali, the Chairman and members of the INC National Electoral Committee and other stakeholders who contributed to the resolution reached at the meeting.
Drawing an analogy from the scriptures, particularly First Kings Chapter 3, he likened the unanimous agreement of the candidates to withdraw all pending court cases to the decision of the true mother of the disputed baby who pleaded with King Solomon not to cut the child into two.
According to the Bayelsa helmsman, the resolution reflects the enthusiasm, love and patriotic fervour in all the presidential candidates to move Ijaw nation forward.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting, the candidates including High Chief MacDonald Igbadiwe who secured the injunction from a Port Harcourt High Court stopping the INC Elections billed for last weekend, confirmed the agreement and pledged commitment towards the peaceful emergence of the next President of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organization.
Also speaking, the President of Ijaw National Congress, Professor Benjamin Okaba , expressed delight at the outcome of the meeting, pointing out that the resolution would enable the National Executive Council of the INC and other critical stakeholders to settle all grey areas within the 30-day window given by the convention.
He said: “Today is a culmination of several efforts being made by myself and some members of the INC Exco to ensure that the transition moves on smoothly, and we will get to the appropriate destination.
“The meeting which was convened by His Excellency, the Governor of Bayelsa State in his capacity as the Governor General of the Ijaw nation was very productive. All the six presidential candidates were in attendance and have agreed to withdraw all court cases.
‘I want to assure you that we are going to explore the 30-day window given to us by the Convention to ensure that the election holds. All appropriate organs of the INC will start work immediately, while we monitor the processes of the withdrawal.’
In attendance at the meeting were all the INC presidential candidates, the Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador Godknows Igali, the Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs, Chief Godspower Oporomor, his Information counterpart, Mrs Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, the Chairman of Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers and CITRE, His Royal Majesty King Bubaraye Dakolo, the Chairman, INC Electoral Committee, Retired Supreme Court Justice Francis Tabai, his vice and the Pere of Tarakiri Clan, Dr Seiyifa Koroye, among others.
