It is pertinent that I begin this press briefing by commiserating with the Abuloma Kingdom and the families that lost their loved ones in the course of this election as I make this presentation in setting the records straight in the annals of Ijaw youth council history.
Let me begin by stating that the election was done under very severe tension which led to delegates voting under fear and outright intimidation with eventual attendant cancellation of some of my votes. I was shot at and brazenly matcheted severally while many of my supporters equally suffered same fate . My only offense by their admission is that I refuse to allow an injustice in the selection process; one in which Alhaji Asari Dokubo decided to select a candidate outside the three selected by a properly constituted committee of fifty four of our respected elders in the Kingdom .
Abuloma was converted to a theatre of war in a manner that contravenes the just principles of free, fair, and transparent elections that would have candidates vote in an unfettered manner. All of these contravenes item number 13 of the electoral guidelines and eligibility list which states that, “The ZECO reserves the right and has the discretion to disqualify any person who gives false information about himself or herself to the ZECO or who engages or incites others to cause violence, disruptions, mayhem or any breach of the public peace either before, during or after the elections.”
To still further falsely muddle my image, they were hellbent in stopping me because I faulted the process that led to the selection of Datolu Sukubo who was clearly not one of the three presented to Alhaji Asari Dokubo to select from by the committee of fifty four. This is the sole reason why I was attacked and almost killed. This evil machination was carried out by the Amama Soldiers, who had no business in an IYC delegates election but came to the venue under very strict and clear instructions of their boss to use every means possible to ensure his preferred candidate was elected. This singular desperation is what prompted the unfortunate death of our Ijaw brothers.
The sham and distorted election contravenes the goals and aspirations of the founding fathers of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), one of which Alhaji Asari Dokubo was not a part. If he knew the intentions of the founding fathers, I am certain that he would not have used his Amama Soldiers to exterminate Ijaws in Abuloma in the name of IYC election. Again I mourn their loss and pray that God grant their parents and loved ones the fortitude to hear this irreparable loss.
On that fateful day trouble started when the Amama Soldiers invaded the election venue and started brazenly brandished their arms while also attempting to gain entrance to the election hall which was meant specifically for candidates, delegates, agents and accredited observers. This escapade infuriated the Abuloma internal security boys to the point of wanting to register the point that they were not supposed to be under the siege of oursiders in any guise nor can they be granted access to the election venue. No Ijaw community would be happy to see another Ijaw man carry arms to come and despoil and desecret his own home. The reaction that took place led to the colossal bloodbath.
Truth be told, there was a grand plan to pocket IYC Eastern Zone by Alhaji Asari Dokubo and others for their selfish interests as against the basic tenets and principles of IYC, which basically is to fight for the collective interest of the Ijaw ethnic nationality. There is no other explanation given the fact that we have had elections in Gbaramatu , precisely in Oporoza where Tompolo provided a very serene and peaceful atmosphere for an election that was adjudged as one of the most free and fair elections in our history. Itās again pertinent to state that not too long ago, the council under the watch and leadership of Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr supervised the western zone executive elections at Odimodi and again this was done in a brotherly atmosphere with Tompolo not expressing is preference for any Candidate. Clearly their motives are poles apart in leadership.
After collecting my form to contest this chairmanship election, I went through all due processes in line with electoral guidelines. September 7 was initially slated for the election in Opobo, where they considered to be a venue but Sadly, the Amama Soldiers bullied and threatened candidates, electoral officers, and delegates. They even brought up the subterfuge of wanting to use only seven clans instead of the usual twenty for the election. However, the Ijaw spirit of saying no to intimidation prevailed. In fact, the Amama Soldiers threatened to sink Opobo if their pay master’s candidate, Datolu Sokubo, was not declared unopposed.
In this , the National President of IYC stood his ground and maintained that he would always support the idea that all candidates who had been duly and successfully screened should engage in contesting the election if they so wished. This objectivity angered the Amama Soldiers to the point of attacking him and all others opposed to them at the venue while shooting sporadically. This led to the cancellation of the election in Opobo.
Another contentious issue that was raised by the Asari group was about the clan structure to use. This was so and they believed that twenty clan structure is a disadvantage to them hence they argued unsuccessfully that 14 be aided against our already established twenty clan . Traditionally, twenty clans used to vote in IYC Eastern Zone elections. However, Alhaji Asari Dokubo wanted only seven or fourteen which he felt would be favourable to their pursuit. The debate on this virtually got the day exhausted. This the cancellation was prompted by the above mentioned argurment and the non stop sporadic shootings of the Amama Soldiers. I have to stress that this is a clear-cut case Ā¹of bad precedent because it is now making IYC election to seem like mini-wars that would subsequently require a man who has very sophisticated weapons winning them at all times. This will awkwardly lead to the proliferation of illegal arms in Ijaw land.
Credit must be duly given to those of our leaders who had shown such sterling attributes in the course of leading and playing pivotal roles in our ijaw struggle. Like I mentioned earlier, High Chief Tompolo and HRM King Ateke Michael Tom had respectively hosted IYC national elective conventions at Oporoza in Gbaramatu Kingdom and in Okochiri in Okrika. No blood in these two instances was spilt. Yet, in the event of a smaller unit as the Eastern Zone, Alhaji Asari Dokubo instigated his Amama Soldiers to kill Ijaw sons in the name of election for pecuniary concerns.
It is proper to say that this act by Alhaji Asari Dokubo and his Amama Soldiers remains a direct affront on the ideal values of IYC veterans in the struggle for self-determination and resource control. The attack on my humble self, who is the immediate past chairman of IYC Kalabari Se Ikpangi, shows a sign of disdain and absolute disrespect for the ideals and founding principles of the ijaw youth council . This was done in spite of the huge sacrifices I made with my team to ensure that things were properly organised in Kalabari Kingdom. A few of my phenomenal contributions includes the Emohua-Kalabari road saga. I must pointedly say that an individual in Ijaw land, no matter his level of wealth or standing can not put a claim to being an embodiment of the Ijaw nation.
Let me again condemn in absolute terms the act of killing of Ijaw sons in the name of election while also consoling the families of those who lost their lives in the course of the sham of an election.
Finally, i want to use this medium to commend the bravery and unusual candor and self control that of the IYC National President, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, for his dogged and unwavering commitment to truth and justice even in the face of threats from Nangi Maobuye-Obu and his cohorts that undermined the electoral process and spurred delegates not to freely cast their votes for their preferred candidates.
Given the foregoing realities, I want to enjoin the leaders and founding fathers and national executives as well as the national parliament of IYC to cancel the entire election for want of cardinal ideals and features of a free and fair election.
Haaa Izon !!!!!!!!
Signed:
Comrade Edward Asikitamunoprim
2024 IYC Eastern Zone Chairmanship Candidate
(Wednesday, September 18, 2024