From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has suspended its ongoing protest over the refusal of the federal government to constitute the substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Aggrieved members of the organisation on Friday May 28 commenced demonstrations in the Niger Delta to force the federal government to constitute the board.
The IYC in a statement by its Deputy National President, Saviour Olali, and its spokesman, Ekerefe Ebilade, while commending members of the organisation for complying with its directive on the protest, it, however, pleaded that the protest be suspended after consultation with other stakeholders especially the Ijaw National Congress(INC).
It implored all its members in the various clans to wait for further directives.
According to investigations the suspension is to allow for wider consultation.
The statement reads in part:
‘The general public would recall that the IYC gave the Federal Government 30-days ultimatum to reconstitute the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) or face the risk of total shut down of Federal Government activities in the Niger Delta including the closure of the NDDC Headquarters in Port Harcourt and their state offices across the Niger Delta.
‘At the expiration of this ultimatum, the planned protest was effectively carried out across the region. The IYC leadership is satisfied with the level of compliance of its members in all the clans and zones across the region.
‘After thorough examination of the progress made so far and in due consultation with critical stakeholders across the entire Ijaw Nation and especially with the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (I.N.C), Council hereby directs the suspension of the 3-day long protest with effect from Friday May 28th.
‘The leadership of Council at the Zonal chapters and Clan levels are hereby informed to act accordingly and await further directives on the way forward.’