IYC National President Barr. Oweilaemi Pereotubo
WARRI- National President of the Ijaw youths Council (IYC, world-wide, Barr. Pereotubo R. Oweilaemi has said that the Ijaw nation does not know the youths empowerment training said to have been carried out in the region by the Niger Delta ministry.
The IYC National President reacted to a statement credited to the minister of Niger Delta affairs Pastor Usani Uguru and a copy was made available to Daily Watch, said ‘‘The attention of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has been drawn to a news report accredited to the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru who claimed to have being embarking on training of about 730 youths in the region through his Ministry. While we do not want to fault the Minister’s claim as such is within his knowledge, our concern is the authenticity of such initiative.
‘‘It may be true that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is actually training such number youths in the region in different fields, we make bold to say that the programme, if any, is shrouded in secrecy. As the President-General of ethnic nationalities in the region, no Youth is aware of the fact that youths from the various ethnic groups in Niger Delta are being engaged by the Ministry for different vocational training.’’
Oweilaemi said ‘‘ IYC wants to know the Ijaw Youths across the six States in the Niger Delta that have benefited from the programme. The Council also wish to know the criteria the Ministry used in selecting such persons for the training.
‘‘Though we will not hesitate to applaud the Ministry if the IYC sees the list of Ijaw beneficiaries in the programme, our worry is the esoteric manner the Government is handling such laudable initiative. If really the present Government wants to mitigate the menace of youth agitations in the region then let its institutions engender an open policy that will be appreciated by all and sundry.
‘‘We are surprised beyond redemption that the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs can come on air to announce such very important programme of the Government without putting the relevant stakeholders in the know. Does it mean to favour some unnamed persons while the Ministry is gloating over such ghost achievements?’’ he blasted the minister of Niger Delta affairs.
