Gov. Diri expresses happiness over INC leadership, urged not to betray the Ijaws
by Peregba Jerry
Bayelsa state governor, Senator Douye Diri, expressed joy over the new leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and has charged them not to be intimidated by any group or person.
Sen. Diri who spoke shortly after swearing-in of the new National Executives Council members at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, on Friday 14th May, 2021, assured the INC leadership of his government’s total support in making sure the voice of the Ijaws which is the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria is heard in every national discuss.
He said, “I am indeed the happiest man in the Ijaw nation today. At God’s own time he has made it possible and it has pleased God that today, we have a new brand national executives committee of the Ijaw National Congress being inaugurated this day after a tough journey for years.”
“Metaphor of a “loud silence” has been broken today. We now have a voice in the institution of the INC,” he added.
Gov. Diri who is an advocate of electronic voting system, lauded the INC electoral committee for conducting a hitch-free, first of its kind e-voting system. He used the occasion to called on the federal government to adopt the e-voting system in order not to dis-enfranchise millions of Nigerians during elections in the country.
His words, “I’m one of the supporters and advocate of electronic voting system. Many Nigerians have being dis-enfranchised simply because of their location, because they are not in Nigeria, they can not participate in Nigerian elections is wrong.
“Let the federal government be challenged that if the Ijaws can do it, the Federal government can also do it. If the Ijaws can enfranchise the Ijaws across the world to be part of deciding their leaders then the Independent National Electoral Commission can equally do it and we will avoid the issues and incidents of violence, criminality and state institutions been politicised in the name of election.
“I believe that what the Ijaw nation has done will continue to resolute and resound in the annals of electoral processes in Nigeria,” he noted.
The governor noted that the Ijaws has never been defeated by anybody, would continue to strive, stressing that the Ijaw nationality would take its position on front burner of national issues. He expressed confidence in the new leadership in piloting the affairs of the Ijaw agenda, however, warned that the Ijaw as an ethnic group is not for sale.
