The Ijaw Youth Council, Western Zone has called on the President Elect, Bolq Tinubu to prioritize signing the Nigerian Matimime University bill into law.
The call was made by Chairman of the Zone, Dr. Doubra Okotete on Tuesday in Bomadi while speaking at the 55th Boro Day celebration in Bomadi, Delta State.
Doubra also tasked the governors of Delta, Edo and Ondo states to give adequate attention to Ijaws while calling for a peaceful co-existence.
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The speech read in full;
A SPEECH DELIVERED BY COMRADE (DR) DOUBRA C. OKOTETE, CHAIRMAN IJAW YOUTH COUNCIL (IYC) WESTERN ZONE [DELTA, EDO AND ONDO STATES], ON THIS DAY MAY 16TH, BORO’S DAY IN BOMADI, THE HEADQUARTER OF IYC WESTERN ZONE
Fellow Comrades,
Late American civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr., once said: “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step towards the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”
We all know why we are gathered here today. It is to celebrate a repository of the struggle. Our legend, Boro means different things to all of us. To some he is a teacher, activist, soldier and mentor. He is our hero, someone who set the pace for the struggle; fought for it, believed in it, and died for the cause. Boro lives on. And indeed, his legacies are with us.
So, as youths it is not only enough to retrospect in his selfless sacrifice. We must use the rare opportunity to rededicate ourselves to his sacrifice. Let me encourage us to reminisce in some of Adaka Boro’s finest words. It says, “Today is a great day, not only in your lives but also in the history of the Niger Delta. Perhaps, it will be the greatest day for a very long time. This is not because we are going to bring the heavens down, but because up are going to demonstrate to the world, what and how we feel about oppression.
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Remember your 70-year-old grandmother who still farms and fishing before she eats; remember also your poverty-stricken people; remember, too, your petroleum which is being pumped out daily from your veins; and then fight for your freedom.” We can only do this when we are united, and ensure that we elect people who are courageous, sacrificial and embodies the can do spirit of Boro in Council’s forthcoming election. When we are united our adversaries will be petrified, we can speak boldly, courageously because it is time to do so passionately to pursue our developmental aspirations as Ijaw people.
Dear Comrades, permit me to digress a little. As your Chairman, I am not perfect, but I have done my bit by changing the narrative for good in ensuring that we continue the pace of our hero and even redefine it for our collective good and deepen our agitation for our deprived people to enjoy the common patrimony. When I was aspiring to be your Chairman, I did promise an all-inclusive government, unity, and erection of a modern day edifice for Council as Secretariat here in Bomadi town to make bold to the entire world that Bomadi is the headquarters of IYC Western Zone, provision of utility vehicle for Council, and I also did promise to commence the celebration of Adaka Boro’s Day here in our zone which we actually started last year, not forgetting our plans to generate resources to frontier our advocacy for economic development, environmental pollution, as well as political inclusion. And today, all glory to God our edifice will soon be completed and all thanks to the Delta State Government with my indefatigable leader, Dr. Shedrack Agediga being instrumental as the then EDPRS DESOPADEC.
Also, the leadership under my watch decided to ensure a program tagged bridging the gap between our political leaders and Ijaw youths and how we can engage in positive ventures in sustaining peace detaching ourselves from social vices that are inimical to our values, customs, norms and tradition as Ijaw people, this program was initiated and done, all these and many more we did, we can’t stop and we won’t stop!
Our first Boro day was held in Warri same day this time last year and this is the second Boro day we are celebrating as a zone. So, I once again, use this opportunity to thank you all for your encouragement, prayers, and contributions in all our activities in Council.
Fellow Comrades, “Alone we can so little, together we can do so much,” it is in view of what Ijaw people will achieve in the coming years, I am emphasizing on unity, working together and planning forward by showing or exemplifying love for one another. A new administration is here and it beckons on us to be unified and constructively confront the issues before us, we can’t stop and we won’t stop!
The maritime university, Okerenkoko is still not signed into law. I am, therefore, using this opportunity to call on the president-elect, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Iyelawei of Gbaramatu Kingdom: (As translated to English, it means a very important person) as a matter of urgency to sign the school into law, for the expansion of academic excellence, economic opportunities and for the good of the whole country.
Not forgetting the Bomadi Polytechnic, Upgrade of the School of Marine Technology Burutu. As a medical doctor, I know the importance of education, and as Ijaw people it behoves in all of us to continue to explore all appropriate windows, legally, diplomatically for the legal backing of the Okerenkoko University.
In Delta State, today we have pockets of challenges, while I commend, His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for his works, yet with obvious challenges, still I believe government and governance is continuum. What Gov. Okowa can’t complete, his successor must complete.
Hence, may I cease this opportunity to once again congratulate our Governor-elect RT. HON. SHERIFF FRANCIS OBOREVWORI on his victory and presentation of certificate of return, while urging him to appoint Ijaw sons and daughters into key offices in the incoming administration and speedily complete the Ayakoromo bridge, total peace and post-conflict restoration of Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja communities, the relocation of Diebiri to its ancestral home, the KICK-OFF OF THE Bomadi Polytechnic and of course full funding of the School of marine technology, Burutu.
Indeed, I am mindful for the fact that we are here to celebrate our hero. The man we are celebrating today fought for our liberation economically and otherwise as a student unionist. And if we can gather to celebrate, we must also be emphatic on the severe economic and environmental impacts we go through as a people.
Conclusively, as Ijaw people we are using this Boro day to call on Mr. President-elect, the Iyelawei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, the urgent need to sign the Maritime University Okerenkoko into law.
The incoming Delta Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, also must complete the Ayakoromo bridge, resolve the crisis between Ogbe-Ijoh, Aladja, fully fund the school of marine technology, Burutu and of course expedite the process of Diebiri reclaiming its ancestral home.
While also urging H.E Godwin Obaseki- Governor of Edo State and H.E Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu- Governor of Ondo State to quickly address the pertinent issues before them that is confronting the Ijaw of Edo and Ondo States.
These are germane issues and these are the issues I urge us all, as Ijaw youths to introspect on this Boro day, to be united and confront them in the days, months and years ahead.
Once gain I appreciate you all that are here for your sacrifices most especially those that have contributed financially and other wise for the overall success of this event. May God richly bless you all. Amen.
Thank you all for your wrapped attention.
Pelede Egberifa!
Haaaaaaaa Izon!!
Izonkeme-emi!!!
Signed:
Dr. (Comrade) Doubra C. Okotete,
Chairman Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone
