The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC worldwide has kick started the activities marking the 25th silver jubilee celebration of Kaiama Declaration and the existence of the Youth body with the foundations laying of its global secretariat in Yenagoa.
This was disclosed by the Spokesman of the IYC, Comrade Princewill Binebai during a press conference held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.
According to Binebai, other activities slated to mark the event include a Thanksgiving service, public lecture, launching of IYC data base and an Awards Night at DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Government House, stating that the event will climax with a Procession match and the unveiling of the Isaac Adaka Boro Statue at Kaiama Grammar School Field.
He emphasized that the Kaiama Declaration was as a result of the political crisis the engulfed the nation and the struggle for the control of the mineral resources in Ijawland, adding that the degradation of the environment by multinational oil companies and the Nigerian state arise because the people have been deprived of their natural right to ownership and control of the resources.
He noted that the IYC was formed 25 years ago in Kaiama town the birth place of Isaac Adaka Boro when over 5000 Ijaw youths from more than 40 Ijaw Clans gathered to articulate their aspirations and to demand to an end to 40 years of environmental damage, cross neglect and underdevelopment.
The IYC spokesman while highlighting the contributions of the IYC to the development of the Niger Delta region, pointed out that the struggle for recognize by the Ijaw youths through the Kaiama Declaration gave birth to the NDDC, the Amnesty Programme, the Ministry of Niger Delta as well as other impactful and meaningful development project set up by the federal government.
On the existence of a fractional leadership in the IYC, Binebai asserted that the only recognized IYC is the ninth leadership led by Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri which was duly elected by the various clans, chapter and stakeholders, insisting this there is no division whatsoever in the IYC.