LAGOS/Nigeria: The Ijaw National Congress (INC), the apex socio-cultural body of the Ijaw people, has established an ad-hoc mediation committee to broker peace and resolve lingering disputes involving prominent ex-agitators, businessmen, and politicians of Ijaw extraction.
The move, aimed at bolstering internal unity and ending the recent spate of public disagreements within the ethnic nationality, was contained in a statement by the INC Publicity Secretary, Chief Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, and made available to newsmen on Sunday.
According to the INC, the President of the body, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, directed the composition of the seven-member panel to provide an indigenous platform for conflict resolution, discouraging the growing trend of public castigation and “pulling down” of fellow Ijaw sons and daughters.
The committee is mandated to reach out to all aggrieved parties across various sectors of Ijaw interest with the primary goal of resolving differences amicably.
“Worried by the increasing spate of disagreement among some prominent Ijaw ex-agitators, businessmen and politicians, the President has directed me to announce the composition of a seven-man ad-hoc mediation committee,” the statement read. “Rather than resort to abusing or castigating a fellow Ijaw son or daughter, we should channel grievances to this committee for amicable settlement.”
The high-powered committee is headed by retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Okoro Julius Alawari, with traditional ruler Iraron Obolo serving as Vice-Chairman and Prof. Juliet Teibowei as Secretary.
Other members of the panel include Mr. Regent Youmor, Mr. Bomo Fetepigi Obhe, Mr. Roberts Reginald, and Mrs. Adesola Ebiseni. The INC leadership expressed confidence that the committee’s intervention will foster the necessary peace and cohesion required for the collective advancement of the Ijaw people.
