By Jide Dominic, Yenagoa
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has called on the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the entire Ijaw ethnic nationality to continue to agitate for the creation of two additional Ijaw states, noting that this was the original request from the Joshua Fumudoh led INC some years ago.
Governor Diri who stated this during the 2026 national convention of INC at Ijaw House, Yenagoa, also opined that he had no preffered candidate among those contesting INC Presidency, reiterating his advocacy for the practice of true and fiscal federalism in the country.
While noting that the present structure can be described as unitary system of governance, the Bayelsa hemsman also contented that the federating states would develop faster if allowed to control their God given resources and pay tax and royalties to the federal government.
In his words: “We have tried. Today, we have just one Ijaw state which is Bayelsa. The INC under it’s former President, Chief Joshua Fumudoh, originally asked for three states which are Oil Rivers, Bayelsa and Toru-Ibe states. This means we still have two more additional states to be created and which must be pursued by INC. So, it is not yet uhuru.
“Economic inequality, environmental degradation and infrastructural neglect remain our collective challenges that require both local and national resolve to redress. This challenges are surmountable and I have no doubt that our sons and daughters have the resilience and the indomitable spirit to overcome them.”
He however commended the outgoing INC President, Professor Benjamin Okaba and members of his Executive Committee for their leadership qualities, particularly when viewed against the backdrop of the cordial partnership with the government at ensuring a formal admission of INC into the United Nations Unrepresented Nations and people’s organisation, imploring the incoming leadership to sustain the tempo of reviving Ijaw cultural values and language to keep the dreams of the founding fathers of the apex pan Ijaw body alive.
The outgoing INC President, Professor Okaba advocated for a global engagement in a strategic way, stressing that the ethnic nationality still produces the main stay of the country despite years of neglect, calling for a change of narrative from the old ways of protests to stronger global ties and engagement.
He further described the gathering as an opportunity for the overall renewal of the leadership and a concerted reassement of the body’s direction.
As part of the achievements of INC leadership while in office, he noted that the organization has registered 15 affiliate groups to further amplify the Ijaw voice on national and international platforms in line with the mandate establishing the body.
In a related development, the national convention of INC was eventually postponed and the election into various offices of the body would take place within the next thirty days.
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