23/07/2026
IYC INAUGURATION:.
Two Grave Errors of Jonathan Lokpobiri and Why the New President Must Choose a Different Path.
Amid the excitement, grandeur, and long-awaited atmosphere of unity that characterized the inauguration of the 10th National Executive Council (NEC) of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), many attendees and online viewers have inundated our phone lines and inboxes with questions and concerns arising from events at the ceremony.
The first issue that deeply disappointed many Ijaw people during the colourful inauguration held yesterday at Ijaw House, Yenagoa, was the tone and content of Jonathan Lokpobiri's address. Rather than using the historic occasion to promote peace and strengthen the renewed spirit of unity within the Council, he chose to ridicule members and supporters of the opposing IYC faction through remarks and expressions that many perceived as provocative, insensitive, and unnecessary.
To many observers—including respected Ijaw stakeholders, journalists, and friends of the Ijaw nation—the inauguration was meant to be a celebration of unity, collective progress, and a new beginning. It was never intended to become a platform for asserting superiority or making comments capable of reopening old wounds and reigniting divisions.
Perhaps it is necessary to remind Jonathan Lokpobiri that he had three years to prove his superiority over the rival faction. During that period, he failed to prove his superiority in court, on the negotiation table, he failed to succeed in his submission attempt, and even in broad-based acceptance among the Ijaw people.
The Ijaw nation did not assemble yesterday to witness a display of petty triumphalism from Jonathan who throughout his tenure was unable to assemble an entire IYC structure Rather, the gathering was to celebrate the restoration of unity and the collective hope for a stronger and more united Council.
It is important to remember that this unity came at a tremendous cost. Some sacrificed their ambitions, others set aside their pride and personal interests, while many worked tirelessly, making difficult compromises to ensure that peace finally prevailed.
In light of these sacrifices, the least expected of Jonathan Lokpobiri was a speech filled with gratitude, humility, and appreciation instead of one that many perceived as self-congratulatory, divisive, and unnecessary victory parade.
More troubling is the timing of such remarks.
Efforts are still underway to harmonize outstanding zonal, clan, and parliamentary structures within the IYC. At such a delicate stage, statements that appear to glorify one individual while diminishing others and making stakeholders uncomfortable are both untimely and counterproductive to the ongoing reconciliation process.
The intentional exclusion of the 8th IYC president Comrade Peter Timothy Igbifa from the list of dignitaries and from the event souvenir program was another deliberate ego feeding adventure of Jonathan Lokpobiri that got people talking during the event.
Just when we thought sanity have returned to Ijaw Youth Council and it was expected that the official portrait of the 8th president would be placed where it belongs in Izon Warrie, Jonathan showed everyone that his pride was far from over.
For sanity sake, Peter Igbifa remains the 8th president of IYC wether anybody likes him or not, omitting this fact is an insult not just to Peter but to the entire leadership chain of council and also an insult and disregard to the people of Ijaw Youth Council Eastern zone from where Peter Igbifa emerged.
This unfortunate display of arrogance also raises concern about the maturity and intellectual status not just of Jonathan Lokpobiri but of the entire planing committee of the event.
How do you address yourself as the 9th president without an 8th president?
If you have a personal or a cartel problem with the 8th president it is not enough to temper official records and representations.
Furthermore, this desperate demonstration of ego among other things tempers with the integrity of the event program itself which was also meant to serve as an information and educational tool for both the present and future generation.
Stakeholders paid for these materials in millions of naira to be printed and distributed to guests for the purpose of acquiring information and not as a story book for Jonathan's pleasure.
Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr may have decided to end his controversial tenure in disarray but it is now left for the current president to either dance to Jonathan's drum beats, inherit his enemies or gain the people's trust and confidence by taking an entirely different path; one that will foster unity in council and show the true strength of the Ijaw people.
We hereby demand an official apology from The planning committee on the ommission of Peter Igbifa in the program and we also demand that the official portrait of the 8th President be hung in Ijaw house along with that of other presidents.
Ijaw means truth and we will continue to stand for the truth, we will continue to blow whistle whenever we see anomalies that is capable of causing disunity and disorder in our dear Ijaw nation.
