Ijaw traditional rulers, elders warn against inauguration of executives from disputed election

BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The National Council of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders, (N-CITRE) on Wednesday dissociated itself from purported inauguration of executives of Ijaw National Congress (INC) from the disputed election of April 13 held in violation of N-CITRE and court order..

Chairman of N-CITRE, HRM, King Bubaraye Dakolo Agada IV, Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama, on Wednesday noted that the planned inauguration of new executives of the INC, will only amount to an exercise in futility.

Dakolo who is also Chairman, Bayelsa Council of Traditional Rulers said that the position is premised on the fact that there are subsisting court orders stopping the swearing in.

Meanwhile, the outgoing INC President Prof Benjamin Okaba whose tenure expires on Thursday, has vowed to go on with the swearing-in despite calls by the Governor of Bayelsa Sen. Douye Diri to shelve the swearing in.

The N-CITRE Chairman, in a chat with newsmen in Yenagoa explained that the INC Constitution has explained that the responsibility of swearing in a new executives is that of CITRE, adding that any swearing-in by any other organ or body will amount to a nullity

Dakolo advised all Ijaw people to give peace a chance, discuss and reason like human beings as the INC is not a youth organization.

“The INC Constitution has explained that the responsibility of swearing in a new executives is that of CITRE and I am Chairman of CITRE and I have not authorized anybody else in CITRE to do that and I will not.

“So if anyone else is trying to take my position for instance, then he is an imposter and why should that happen when I am not incapacitated .

“We have received a subsisting interim injunction from a Port Harcourt High court restraining N-CITRE from inaugurating a new exco. And another court injunction from a Bayelsa State High Court ruled on the May 12, that all parties should maintain the status quo, and another court injunction from Warri High Court 2, saying that the inauguration can take place anywhere. So we have three court orders, two saying don’t and one saying go ahead.

“As an Ijaw man , nothing pains me more than this nonsense because if you look at my life, it has been a life of unquantifiable sacrifice and agony because I am an Ijaw man. Most of the things that have happened to me, if I was not Ijaw they won’t happen to me.

“So my being Ijaw and also identifying as Ijaw has actually given me a lot of troubles.

“There is a rule for everything and certain persons do not want to follow for a second , they just want to take charge and that is not the way to take charge if we must move forward.

“This is just to say that there are court orders that are barring CITRE or ELECO from doing anything. However for someone to avoid proceedings to go and do it anyway speaks volumes.

“They will be representing themselves, because it will not be accepted . I think that whatever that goes on tomorrow in respect to swearing in on Thursday will still be an exercise in futility and will remain so. I am advising that all Ijaw people to give peace a chance, discuss and reason like human beings because this is not a youth organization.” Dakolo said.