The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide with its national headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has suspended indefinitely the Secretary General of Council, Mr. Maobuye Nangi Obu.
Maobuye was suspended in connection with his alleged roles in the attacks and killings of some Ijaw youths during Saturday’s Eastern Zonal elections in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The suspension followed the Council’s resolutions after rising from an expanded National Executive Council meeting yesterday in Port Harcourt.
The communique released after the meeting was signed by Comrade Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, President, IYC Worldwide; Freedom Atigbi, Deputy President, IYC; Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill, National Spokesman; Ari Fekorigha, National Mobilisation Officer; Amb. Egelu Bright, Assistant Secretary General; Comrade Fanny Amatoru, Treasurer; Ayebatiri Victor-Gow, National Financial Secretary; Tikima Arigban, Chairman, IYC Lagos Chapter and Chairman, Chairmen Forum; Peres Ineife,
Chairman, IYC Central Zone and Secretary Charmen Forum; Nicholas Tamara-Denyefa, Chairman IYC Western Zone; Emmanuel Deinma, Chairman, IYC Abuja Chapter and Ebizimor Oweifie, Chairman, IYC UK Chapter.
The communique said by the actions of the Secretary of Council, the entire IYC leadership was held hostage by gunmen, thereby painting the Council in bad light.
The IYC said that as a responsible organisation, it could not fold its arms and let one of them to consistently sabotage the progress of Council and Ijaw nation through deliberate actions that had brought division, shame and avoidable deaths to Ijaw youths.
It said the Council would transmit the resolution to its Parliament for appropriate further actions.
The communique urged the general public, institutions and individuals to desist from any further dealings with Maobuye, warning that anybody who does any transaction or dealings with him in the name of IYC does so at his or her own risk.
The Council also expressed profound sorrow and extended its condolences to His Royal Majesty, Brig.-Gen. Bright Ateke Fiboinumama (rtd), the Obeomomuodo 1 of Abuloma Clan, as well as to the immediate families of those who fell victim to the tragic and unprovoked violence during the zonal elections.
It said the deeply distressing incident resulted in the unwarranted deaths of numerous Ijaw youths with injuries to many more residents within the Abuloma community.
The IYC said intelligence reports indicated that Nangi Maobuye, the Secretary General of the Council, played a critical role in inciting the violence that disrupted the democratic process, culminating in significant loss of lives and property.
The body said witnesses claimed that he was actively engaged in confrontational actions against the President of the Council and the Chairman of the Zonal Electoral Committee (Zeco), further exacerbating an already tense situation.