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From: Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
A former President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Kimse Okoko, has expressed optimism that the 20-man Ijaw National Reconciliation Committee set up by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson would resolve the lingering crisis affecting the INC.
Governor Dickson had recently inaugurated the committee headed by former military governor of old Rivers state and Amanayanbo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff to resolve the crisis caused by the election of the President of the INC.
Okoko, who spoke in an interview, said as long as all the parties were sincerely and honest the problem bedeviling the organization would be solved.
According to him the crisis has robbed the Ijaw nation of a voice in the Nigeria polity and the earlier the problem is solved the better it would be for the Ijaw nation.
Okoko, however, warned that in the efforts to solve the problem there should be no political interference any quarters especially the government as he would not be party to any form of interference.
“The committee was set up for a specific function which is to resolve the crisis in the INC and that is the work the committee would do. I have always believed that when people are sincere and honest, there is no problem that cannot be solved. And I believe the committee would be able to resolve the problem. It is solvable.
“The crisis has given the Ijaw nation some draw backs because there has been no voice for the Ijaw nation. Other ethnic groups are speaking but there is nobody to speak for the Ijaw nation because of the problem. Individuals can speak but it is not the spokesman of the Ijaw nation speaking.
“And it is important we resolve this crisis so that the voice of the Ijaw nation can be heard again. I believe if there is no partisanship, politics and government interference. We shall resolve the crisis. I believe government would not interfere in the process because if it does, I would not be part of it”
