The Secretary-General of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Nangi Obu, has rejected his suspension by members of the Jonathan Lokpobiri-led executive committee of the council.
Obu’s suspension followed accusations that he was responsible for the violence that marred the IYC Eastern zonal election in Abuloma, Port Harcourt, where at least 12 people were allegedly killed, and many others were injured in clashes between rival groups.
While the Rivers State Police Command confirmed that a shooting occurred during the election, it did not officially report any casualties.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Obu dismissed his suspension as illegitimate, asserting that the IYC President and the executive members lacked the constitutional authority to remove him from office. “They have no right to sit and suspend me because I am not an employee of Jonathan. Our constitution does not give them such latitude,” he stated.
Obu described the killings of Ijaw youths during the election as tragic and preventable, placing the blame on IYC President Jonathan Lokpobiri’s interference and alleged attempts to impose candidates on the election. He argued that Jonathan, as President, should only act as an observer during zonal elections and not interfere or micromanage the process.
Obu further pointed out that during similar elections in the Central Zone of Bayelsa State and the Western Zone in Delta State, Lokpobiri merely participated as an observer, without trying to influence the outcomes. He questioned why the same approach was not followed in the Eastern Zone election.
