…As IYC President, Yebrade warn against Shell divestment without indigenous participation

Following a peaceful successful election, a new leadership for Gbaramatu Youths Development Association also known as Gbaramatu Youths Council, GYC, has been officially inaugurated with Kingsley Egbejule as its new President.

Others include, V/President – Apostle Stephen Uyas, Secretary – Tarike Raphael, Public Relations Officer (PRO) – Wuruyai Maxwell, Tresurer – Mss Bolei Juliet Seiyefa, Financial Secretary – Onitsha Evidence, Chief Organizer – Doubra Kelvin, Assistant Chief Organiser – Uroju Godswill and Assistant Secretary, Tolar Theresa.

The election and subsequent inauguration of the new executives to pilot the affairs of the youth group was held during National Elective Convention at Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State on Friday with the theme:”Oil Multinational Divestment of Assets and Its Implication for Niger Delta Development.”

Speaking on the theme, Guest Speaker Dr. Moses Yebrade warns that there is a looming danger with the Shell’s divestment plans and called on Ijaw leaders and Niger Deltans to take proactive measures against the move, stressing that the region has faced many years of environmental pollution which the SPDC is yet to clean-up.

His words: “Before the divestment, Shell must come up with the divestment plan, the Ijaw people and Niger Deltans needs to know the exact plan Shell has for our region and her people, INC, IYC must work with other groups in the Niger Delta to pressure the Government and Shell to do the right thing.

Also in his is remark, the Chairman of the occasion and President of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri, described the Shell purported divestment as a looming danger to the people of Niger Delta and the Ijaw people in particular, insisting that until the Niger Delta and Ijaw people are carried along, the divestment will only amount to be an exercise in futility.

He said: “The Ijaw nation which constitutes 70 percent of oil and gas cannot allow this consortium to happen without the proper inclusion of the Ijaw people. If we don’t have the right of first refusal, we cannot allow this to happen. Shell is owing us more than $2 billion, Our environment is bleeding and Nigeria cannot go on with this without the economic inclusion of the Ijaw people.

Earlier, in his valedictory speech, the outgone President of the Gbaramatu Youth Council, Comr. Shadrach Onitsha, expressed gratitude to the people of the Kingdom for giving him the opportunity to lead, stressing that he will forever remain indebted to the youths and leaders of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

In his inaugural speech, the new President of Gbaramatu Youths Council, GYC, Mr. Kingsley Egbejule promised to work closely with his exco members, founding fathers of the body, former Presidents and all leadership structures in Gbaramatu Kingdom, adding that his administration will consolidate on the gains recorded by previous administrations and improve on it.

He particularly vowed not to betray the confidence reposed on him by the Youths of Gbaramatu Kingdom, adding that his emergence will herald a new beginning for GYC, stressing that he will operate an open door policy by carrying everyone along as he is not new to the challenges faced by the people.

The programme also witnessed the presentation of awards of recognition to deserving sons and daughters of Gbaramatu Kingdom for their meritorious services to the Kingdom.