Brave Dickson
The people of the Ijaw ethnicity in Abuja and other northern states elected their new leaders on Monday, who will lead them for another two years.
Those elected were: Chief Alagba Ebifemowei as chairman, Mrs Dorcas Toruemi as vice chairman; and Elder Ennia George as secretary, among others.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Ebifemowei, promised to build on the legacy of his outgoing predecessor, Comrade Onisofien Success Jack, adding that his leadership would focus on the socioeconomic needs of his people.
He said his leadership will defend the interests of the Ijaws in the North at all times and ensure that they are not treated as second-class citizens in the North.
The newly elected chairman also called on those who lost in the election as well as other aggrieved members of the Ijaw community in the North to work with him for the overall good of all sons and daughters of the Abuja-based Ijaws.
In his valedictory speech, the outgoing chairman, Success Jack, said, “Let me start by expressing my profound gratitude to God Almighty and my good people of the Ijaw community, for giving me the opportunity to serve our people as the Chairman and Leader of the entire Ijaw Nation here in Abuja and all of Northern Nigeria.
“Our leadership initiated and implemented a robust social security program as a vehicle to mitigate the seeming touts and hooliganism for which our young people were known in this town.”
“In 2021, the community under my leadership liaised and struck a partnership with the German Embassy in Nigeria through its GIZ center to train and empower our people with both digital and manual skills to become economically independent and also remain relevant and competitive in our fast-changing world.
“In just about two weeks after inception, we coordinated and enrolled over two hundred Ijaw people, who proceeded to acquire multiple skills and, in some cases, impressive starter packs. The biggest of its kind ever.
“Under this same partnership with GIZ, over 10 Ijaw sons and daughters were enrolled on the GIZ internship program, where they were all paid the sum of N50,000 each on monthly basis, for a duration of three months.
“To the newly elected executives, I say congratulations once again as I implore you to remain focused and do your best for our people.
“And to my fellow Ijaw brothers and sisters, I beg that you give the new leadership your love, respect and support to succeed.
“You would please permit me, at this juncture to honourably take a bow and join my colleagues in the college of former Chairmen of the Ijaw Community.
“Congratulations on your successful transition and may God Almighty, bless us all.”
