The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has commended candidates and key institutions involved in the leadership process of the Ijaw National Congress for their roles in promoting peace and unity ahead of the organisation’s presidential election.
The governor praised the six presidential aspirants and the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders for supporting efforts aimed at ensuring a smooth and peaceful transition of leadership within the apex Ijaw socio-cultural body.
Diri made the remarks during a stakeholders’ meeting held at Government House in Yenagoa, where all the candidates seeking the INC presidency agreed to withdraw pending court cases linked to the election dispute.
Represented by his deputy, Peter Akpe, the governor also appreciated the Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Godknows Bolade Igali, the leadership of the INC National Electoral Committee, and other stakeholders for facilitating dialogue that helped resolve the disagreements.
Drawing an analogy from the Bible, particularly First Kings Chapter Three, Diri compared the decision of the candidates to withdraw their lawsuits to the action of the true mother in the story of King Solomon who pleaded that the disputed child should not be divided.
According to the governor, the decision reflects the sense of unity, patriotism, and commitment among the aspirants to safeguard the interest of the Ijaw nation.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the meeting, one of the candidates, MacDonald Igbadiwe, who had earlier obtained an injunction from a high court in Port Harcourt halting the election scheduled for last weekend, confirmed that all aspirants had agreed to withdraw their legal actions.
He said the candidates were committed to ensuring a peaceful and credible process that would produce the next president of the Ijaw National Congress.
Also reacting, the incumbent President of the INC, Benjamin Okaba, welcomed the resolution reached at the meeting and described it as a major step toward stabilising the organisation.
Okaba explained that the agreement would allow the National Executive Council of the INC and other relevant organs of the organisation to address outstanding issues within the 30-day window provided by the convention.
He stated that the stakeholders’ meeting convened by Governor Diri, in his role as Governor-General of the Ijaw nation, created an opportunity for all parties to resolve the crisis through dialogue.
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Okaba added that the organisation would immediately begin processes to monitor the withdrawal of court cases and ensure preparations for the conduct of the election.
Several prominent stakeholders attended the meeting, including the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs, Godspower Oporomor, the Commissioner for Information, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, and the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council and CITRE, Bubaraye Dakolo.
Also present were the Chairman of the INC Electoral Committee, retired Supreme Court Justice Francis Tabai, and the Pere of Tarakiri Clan, Seiyifa Koroye, among other leaders and stakeholders.
The resolution reached at the meeting is expected to clear the way for the Ijaw National Congress to proceed with preparations for the long-awaited presidential election.
