It was drama at the Izon House in the capital of Bayelsa Saturday, July 25, 2015, the proposed venue of the keenly watched meeting of the Niger Delta militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) as armed soldiers and policemen invaded the building in the early hours of the day.
The proposed meeting of “commanders and leaders of various wings” of the militant group was being convened by MEND leader, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, and was slated to hold at the Izon House (also known as Ijaw House) by 2pm.
READ: Tension In The Niger Delta As Tompolo ‘Resuscitates’ MEND Over Buhari
READ: Armed Troops Invade And Occupy Venue Of Proposed MEND Meeting
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has issued a statement, Saturday, condemning the invasion of the Ijaw House, where the Bayelsa State Ministry of Ijaw National Affairs and Council has its offices. The building also serves as the administrative headquarters of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).
In a statement signed by spokesperson for the IYC, Eric Omare, the youth group said that the invasion was illegal, unconstitutional, and a draw back to the dark days of military dictatorship in which Nigerians were deprived of their fundamental human rights. The group said that it has it on “good authority that President Buhari has an agenda to bomb and destroy the Niger-Delta region especially the Ijaw areas”.
The military movement into the Niger Delta region, the IYC says, would commence “this week”.
READ: Governor Dickson Calls For Postponement Of Meeting Of MEND Commanders
“The IYC wishes to remind the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari that we are in a constitutional democracy where things are done according to law.
“The 1999 Constitution which is the foundation upon which our democracy is built recognizes the right to freedom of assembly and movement.
“The Niger-Delta people whether as ex-agitators or youth groups have the right to assembly in a meeting and free movement.
“The fears of many Nigerians that General Buhari would take Nigeria back to the dark days of dictatorship where there is no regard for human rights are coming to reality.
READ: #SoundOff: Why I Am Scared Of Tompolo And Why Nigeria Needs To Change Strategy
“President Buhari did not go to a war with the Niger Delta people in the March 28, 2015 Presidential election with Niger-Delta born Goodluck Jonathan but only contested an election for which he came out victorious.
“We are therefore at loss as to why President Buhari has decided to treat the Niger Delta region like an enemy zone and a conquered territory,”‘ the statement read in part.
Below is the full press statement by the Ijaw Youth Council.
PRESS STATEMENT
EX-NIGER DELTA AGITATORS MEETING: IYC CONDEMN MILITARY INVASION OF IJAW HOUSE, YENAGOA, BAYELSA STATE, SAYS THAT NIGERIA BACK TO THE DARK DAYS OF DICTATORSHIP
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide condemns in the strongest terms the military invasion of Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State; the administrative headquarters of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and housing the Bayelsa State Ministry of Ijaw National Affairs and Culture.
A combined team of military and police officers in the early hours of Saturday, the 25th of July, 2015 invaded and took over Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to prevent ex-Niger Delta agitators from having their proposed meeting on Saturday, the 25th of July, 2015.
This is illegal, unconstitutional and a draw back to the dark days of military dictatorship where Nigerians were deprived of their fundamental rights.
The IYC wishes to remind the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari that we are in a constitutional democracy where things are done according to law.
The 1999 Constitution which is the foundation upon which our democracy is built recognizes the right to freedom of assembly and movement.
The Niger-Delta people whether as ex-agitators or youth groups have the right to assembly in a meeting and free movement.
All officers and administrative staff of the INC and IYC including Bayelsa State civil servants under the Bayelsa State Ministry of Ijaw Nationl Affairs and Culture have been denied access to the premises.
This is a threat to our nascent democracy. Democracy is not only about having rice and beans to eat but the enjoyment of basic and fundamental rights which are enshrined and guaranteed in the constitution.
The fears of many Nigerians that General Buhari would take Nigeria back to the dark days of dictatorship where there is no regard for human rights are coming to reality.
The IYC has it on good authority that President Buhari has an agenda to bomb and destroy the Niger-Delta region especially the Ijaw areas.
The military movement into the Niger Delta region we have been reliably informed would commenced this week.
The IYC, the Ijaw Nation and the Niger Delta people wishes to alert Nigerians and the International community of this impending humanitarian disaster.
President Buhari did not go to a war with the Niger Delta people in the March 28, 2015 Presidential election with Niger-Delta born Goodluck Jonathan but only contested an election for which he came out victorious.
We are therefore at loss as to why President Buhari has decided to treat the Niger Delta region like an enemy zone and a conquered territory.
Only two days in faraway United States, President Buhari confirmed that he would not treat the Niger Delta region like other regions.
President Buhari has demonstrated so far in office that he is not interested in the welfare of the people of the Niger Delta but only in the oil resources found in the Niger Delta region.
The IYC call on President Buhari to order the military and police officers presently forcefully occupying Ijaw House, Yenagoa to immediately vacate the premises and stop forthwith the violation of the rights of people who have business to carry out at Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Political, opinion and religious leaders and the international community should prevail on General Buhari to have regard for constitutionalism in the Niger Delta region and stop the violation of the rights of Niger Deltans.
The IYC would also take immediate legal and related actions to address these violations.
Whether President Buhari likes it or not, the Niger Delta people would meet to determine their destiny in Nigeria.
Signed:
ERIC OMARE,Spokesman for the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide
