The President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Dr. Alaye Theophilus has, on behalf of the Council, expressed dismay over the avoidable violent outcome of the purported IYC Election conducted by Jonathan Lokpobiri in Rivers State that led to the death of over 15 promising Ijaw Youths.
Dr. Alaye Theophilus expressed his displeasure while analyzing the immediate and remote possible causes that led to the avoidable violent election.
He stated that Jonathan Lokpobiri failed to consult the IYC stakeholders in the Eastern Zone despite the fact that a legitimate zonal exco had been inaugurated and did not consider the mood of the people following the dissenting views of the Exco members before embarking on the conduct of an election which was intended to forcefully coronate his loyalist against the wish of IYC stalwarts in the Eastern Zone.
Dr. Alaye Theophilus noted that Jonathan Lokpobiri lacks credibility as a factional President who has been roundly rejected by the IYC fold and failed to weigh the mood of the people before embarking on the misadventure that led to the death of innocent Ijaw youths and should be held responsible.
He charged Jonathan Lokpobiri to explain the security arrangement that was put in place to secure delegates and the safety of the venue before the commencement of the illegal election if the manner guns were smuggled into the venue without detection by the eagle eyes of security operatives if they were present and freely used by the fifth columnists to cause mayhem.
The IYC President, Dr. Alaye Theophilus, stressed that the unpleasant incident resulting in the death of 15 persons with scores mortally wounded would have been avoided if Jonathan Lokpobiri had threaded with caution and heeded earlier warnings from critical stakeholders not to conduct the election.
Dr Alaye went further to state that, even if Jonathan were to conduct an election, it is expected of him to consult former leaders from the zone to know the direction and allow the people of the zone to manage the affairs of their zone but rather the arrogant Jonathan who was so desperate to install an anti-Governor Sim Fubara candidate as factional Eastern zonal chairman went ahead against all odds to conduct an election which has finally led to the lost of lives and properties.
The IYC President, Dr. Alaye Theophilus placed on record that Jonathan Lokpobiri no longer enjoys the support and confidence of his purported Exco members particularly those from the Eastern Zone, and wondered why he went ahead to conduct an election in such a charged atmosphere which Dr. Alaye Theophilus said was a well-rehearsed plot by Jonathan to take his pound of flesh on perceived disloyal Exco members.
Dr. Alaye Theophilus extends his condolences on behalf of the Council to families whose loved ones were cut short in their prime by the misguided actions of Jonathan Lokpobiri and prayed for the peaceful repose of their souls.
The IYC President, Dr. Alaye Tari Theophilus, also called on various security agencies to quickly swing into action by inviting Jonathan Lokpobiri and its cohort to come and give an account of what transpired at Abuloma town because what played out is beyond what we can be allowed to sweep under the carpet.
