Implement Confab report to avoid crisis, IYC tells FG

The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide has called on the Federal Government to begin the process of implementing the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference in order to avoid further crisis in the country.

The IYC noted that though the recent meeting by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo with northern and Igbo elders was commendable, it would not address the ethnic rivalry and the issue of minority protection in the Niger Delta.

The body said in a statement in Port Harcourt on Sunday and signed by its spokesman, Mr. Henry Iyalla, that the operation of true federalism would guarantee peace and unity within the federating units in Nigeria.

“We wish to emphatically call on the Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Muhammadu Buhari to without further delay commence the process of legislation and subsequent implementation of the recommendations of the National Confab which held between March to August 2014, with 492 delegates in attendance drawn from the various interest groups of the Federation.

“It must be noted that the recent secessionist call by the Arewa Youth Forum and the subsequent meetings called by the Acting President with northern and Igbo leaders though commendable, does not address the root cause of ethnic rivalries and minority protection, especially in the Niger Delta region.

“Suffice to say that only the operation of a true fiscal federalism can guarantee peace and unity within the Federating units in the country,” the IYC statement read.

The Ijaw apex youth group, however, cautioned that Nigeria would never be free, sovereign and develop until the 2014 conference recommendations were implemented.

According to the statement, “We (IYC Worldwide) hereby call on all tiers of government saddled with this responsibility to hasten the implementation of this important report to avoid further crises in the country.