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From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has renewed its demand for greater federal appointments, employment opportunities and political representation for Ijaw youths, following the election of Etifa Jonathan as Chairman of its Abuja and Northern Nigeria Chapter.
Jonathan, lawyer, emerged victorious after polling 35 of the 45 votes cast in the chapter’s leadership election, which was witnessed by the President of IYC Worldwide, Doubra Collins Okotete, members of the 10th National Executive Council and other stakeholders.
In his acceptance speech, the chairman-elect pledged to intensify engagement with relevant government institutions to secure greater opportunities for Ijaw youths in federal ministries, departments and agencies, as well as other positions of authority.
He maintained that the Ijaw people deserved greater representation in governance, considering their contributions to Nigeria’s economy and national development, particularly through the resources produced in the Niger Delta.
Jonathan said his administration would prioritise unity, institutional strengthening and the advancement of the interests of Ijaw youths, while building on the achievements of the outgoing leadership.
He disclosed that his first 100 days in office would be devoted to consolidating existing gains, addressing identified shortcomings and strengthening the chapter’s capacity to pursue its objectives.
The chairman-elect also appealed to his opponents and their supporters to put aside their differences and work with the new executive, insisting that the election should not create divisions within the council.
According to him, the outcome represented a collective victory for the Ijaw nation rather than a personal triumph, and every member had a role to play in the chapter’s development.
He said he had already reached out to other contestants to seek their cooperation, promising an inclusive administration that would accommodate different interests and encourage wider participation in the council’s activities.
Speaking at the event, Okotete described the election as free, credible and transparent, giving the process a 97 per cent assessment.
The IYC Worldwide president said the exercise was an internal affair intended to produce capable leaders who would advance the interests of Ijaw youths and strengthen the organisation.
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Drawing from more than two decades of involvement in the council’s leadership, he urged the incoming executive to embrace patience, sacrifice, consultation and collective decision-making in addressing matters affecting the Ijaw nation.
Okotete particularly cautioned the new chairman against making sensitive public statements or taking major decisions without consulting relevant stakeholders, reminding him that the Abuja chapter remained an integral part of the council’s national structure.
On the 2027 general elections, he maintained that the IYC would remain non-partisan but would provide opportunities for political candidates to engage with Ijaw communities and explain their plans for addressing the challenges confronting the Niger Delta.
He said the council would examine candidates’ positions on resource control, state creation and equitable political representation, stressing that these issues remained central to the interests of the Ijaw people.
According to him, the organisation would encourage political engagement that enabled Ijaw youths to understand the commitments of candidates and assess their proposals on matters affecting their communities.
Earlier, the outgoing chairman, Emmanuel Deinma, urged the new executive to sustain the unity of the chapter, describing cooperation among members as essential to the council’s progress.
Deinma said the leadership transition should provide an opportunity to consolidate achievements and strengthen the organisation rather than encourage rivalry among members.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Miriam Kiriboh Erenaminaka, described the election as challenging but successful.
She explained that the committee encountered difficulties during the sale of nomination forms, screening of aspirants and other stages of the electoral process but remained committed to conducting a credible exercise.
Erenaminaka, who described herself as the first woman to chair the IYC Worldwide electoral committee, said her involvement reflected the importance of promoting women’s participation in leadership and encouraging greater inclusion within the council.
She expressed satisfaction with the conclusion of the election and urged members to support the new executive in pursuing the objectives of the organisation.
