Ijaw Plot Way Foward

Ijaw National Congress, INC, the umbrella body of all Ijaw nationality all over the world recently held a conference on the state of the nation and the way forward for the Nigerian state.

The event took place at the Atlantic Hall, Best Western, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.

According to the Acting President of the group, Chief Joshua Benamasia, “we congratulate his Excellency, President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, His Excellency, the Vice President, Arch Namadi Sambo, all the elected governors and members of the 7th National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on their electoral victory.

The elected public officers were urged to see the mandate as a demand of the Nigerian people for better performance, strict adherence to the rule of law and to stamp out corruption and move Nigeria forward.

Benamesia said our twin issues of restructuring the country for true fiscal federalism and achieving economic management on the basis of resource control are germane matters to be resolved. This according to the group, would guarantee the stability, unity, peaceful coexistence, equity, fairness, justice and unfettered rapid development of the nation.

They said there is need to face reality and decide what next when oil and gas is no more.

On the pressent security concerns, the group said Ijaw nation shares in the security concerns of all well-meaning Nigerians with regard to the post-election violence and frequent outbreak of religious crises, and the recent bombing of the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.

—Paul Iyoghojie