Bayelsa state governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged the new leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to reinvigorate the body to propagate the ideals for which it was formed.
Governor Diri stated this Wednesday when the 10th IYC president, Dr. Doubra Okotete, his executive and other stakeholders paid a courtesy visit to the Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor charged the leadership to work together to bring the council back towards projecting and promoting the collective interests of the Ijaw nation.
Diri challenged the body on a virile and vibrant IYC that would work closely with government at all levels and other relevant international agencies to impact on the development of Ijaw youth.
He also enjoined members of the executive to provide the right leadership and guard against politicising the body, picketing firms for pecuniary gains and other issues that could bring it into disrepute.
He said: “The INC and the IYC were formed for the development of Ijaw nation and for recognition of an Ijaw man as somebody with the intellect to also contribute to development of Nigeria, and for our resources not to be expropriated.
“These were, in simple terms, the reasons for these supranational bodies. As time went on, what we saw was very different.
“But I am happy today listening to you. In your agenda, you are prepared to bring the IYC back to what it was. I charge you to do just that.
“I want to see a new IYC that will be re-engineered to engage with Bayelsa state government and every other government or agency nationally and internationally.”