By Nathan Nwakamma
Yenagoa – The leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has debunked reports that it had scheduled its National Convention for Feb. 4 in Okrika, Rivers State.
The council in a statement signed by its President, Mr Udengs Eradiri, and made available to newsmen on Monday in Yenagoa, said that members and the public should disregard the reports.
“The IYC leadership has not fixed a date for a national convention,” Eradiri said.
The President said that three persons: Mike Wenibowei, Jephthah Kalaiti and Jeremiah Owoupele, who were alleged to had released the schedule for the convention, had no such powers.
“The attention of the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has been drawn to a purported National Convention of the IYC fixed for Feb. 4 in Okrika, Rivers State.
“The leadership of the IYC calls on all IYC members and the general public to completely disregard the purported reports of the convention.
“The IYC leadership has not fixed a date for its national convention.
“Mike Wenebowei, Jephthah Kalati and Jeremiah Owoupele, who signed the announcement calling for the purported convention do not have the powers to call for IYC convention or congress,’’ he said.
Eradiri urged Ijaw youths to exercise patient saying the leadership of the IYC would give its directive on the matter.
“We also call on security agencies to call the above-mentioned persons to order to avoid acts that may lead to breakdown of law and order,’’ the President said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that attempts to speak with those who purportedly released the announcement proved abortive as they were said to be out of Yenagoa.