LAGOS JULY 24TH (URHOBOTODAY)—The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide is now being threatened following the emergence of two electoral committee ahead of its National Convention in Bayelsa State on August 10, 2013.
While Jeremiah Oba is laying claim to the chairmanship of the Electoral Committee, the electoral committee recognised by the clan heads, zonal chairmen and prominent leaders of IYC is led by renowned human rights/environmental activist, Ann Kio Briggs.
The factional electoral committee led by Oba, had accused the Ann Kio-Briggs led committee of breaching IYC constitution based on the age bracket needed to qualify one as a member of IYC.
He alleged that the nomination of Ann Kio-Briggs and other executive violates the provision of IYC constitution, since they were above 50 years.
But the spokesman of the IYC, Mr Jeremiah Owoupele, described the claims by the Oba led faction as shameful and ridiculous, saying that it was sad that the group led by Oba could claim to be the executive in charge of the national convention despite the outcome of an acceptable meeting held in Abuja.
On the alleged illegality in the composition of the Ann Kio-Briggs Committee based on age violation, he said though the age bracket required to be members of the IYC was 42 years, “Oba ‘sgroup lack knowledge on the exceptional case that led to the formation of the Ann Kio-Briggs committee.”
Source: Vanguard