Welcome to Ijaw National Congress
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International Headquarters, Ijaw House, Sanni Abacha Expressway, Yenagoa, Bayelsa, Nigeria
Welcome to Ijaw National Congress
International Headquarters, Ijaw House, Sanni Abacha Expressway, Yenagoa, Bayelsa, Nigeria
Before 1991, many Ijaw groups had been formed in many parts of Nigeria essentially to draw attention of Governments to the plight of the Ijaw and protest the extant state of affairs in Ijaw land, especially among the youths who were eager for a change in the status quo at whatever cost in sweat and blood!
Organized jointly by the Delta State Izon Consultative Committee (Warri) and the Ijaw People’s Union (Lagos).
2nd All-Ijaw National Convention tagged “Arogbo 92” in Arogbo, Ondo State.
All-Ijaw Delegates Conference tagged “KAIAMA 93” held in Kaiama, Bayelsa State.
Promoting the interest of the ijaw people
The 23rd November 1991 Patani Convention was organized jointly by the Delta State Izon Consultative Committee (Warri) and the Ijaw People's Union (Lagos) and was hosted by HRM Major L. M. Erebulu (Rtd.), Aduo II, the Pere of Kabowei Kingdom, under the chairmanship of Chief F. H. E. Brisibe. Powerful and inspiration speeches and papers were presented by Chief (Dr.) Dappa-Biriye, Chief George Weikezi, Rev. (Dr) C. A. Dime, Justice J. A. P. Oki, Tony Engrube, Morris Ekiye, Prof. P.S. Akponwei and P. Z. Aginighan among others.
The Patani Convention of 1991 saw the emergence of Dr. (now) Prof. C. A. Dime, the leader of the coordinating committee with P. Z. Aginighan as Secretary. The Committee eventually transformed into the INC which was seen as an approximation of the envisioned think-tank. The Dime led tenure ended in 1994 during another Patani Convention held on the 7th January 1994.
The two major resolutions of the convention, as reflected in its communiqué were: a) The demand made on the Federal Military Government to create homogenous Ijaw States and Local Government Areas for the Ijaws; in the firm conviction that the Ijaw question was more political than economic and could only be solved by situating political power in Ijaw land so that the Ijaws could solve these problems by themselves; and b) The constitution of a committee (later to be known as the Ijaw National Co-ordinating Committee, (INCC) which was mandated to "examine various issues raised which affect collective Ijaw interests in the Nigerian federation" and to be the eye of the Ijaws in the affairs of the nation.
The 2nd All-Ijaw National Convention tagged "Arogbo 92"which held in Arogbo, Ondo State from 20th — 22nd November 1992 was the second major activity of the Dime led Ijaw National Coordinating Committee. Arogbo 92 was graced by the eminent presence of Chief (Dr.) Dappa-Biriye, Chief George Weikezi (the "Big Daddy"), and a personal envoy of Chief Ada George, the Governor of Rivers State, and HRH Pere D. M. E. Eperetun, Aagah II, the Agadagba of Arogbo-Ijaw Kingdom. The keynote paper was presented by Prof. Kimse Okoko.
This "Arogbo 92" felt that matters of the Ijaw race should not continue to be handled by a committee. The name, All-Ijaw Cultural Association, was therefore adopted instead of the Ijaw National Coordinating Committee. "Arogbo 92" also raised the status of INCC to an interim National Executive Council,although unelected, with a mandate, to within six months to:
1) Prepare a draft constitution, and 2) Organize a Delegates Conference to ratify the constitution of the Pan Ijaw national body.
On the advice of Chief (Dr.) Dappa-Biriye, who indeed chose the venue of the two previous convention at Patani and Arogbo, the 3rd Ijaw National Convention was slated for November 1993, at Abua of Rivers State.
In accordance with the mandate of the 2nd All-Ijaw National Convention," Arogbo 92", an All-Ijaw National Delegates Conference was held at Kaiama on Saturday, May 15th, 1993. The name Izon (Ijaw) National Congress was adopted as an umbrella organization to handle all Ijaw matters. The Constitution of the body was also ratified, and the interim NEC led by Dr. (Now Prof.) Dime was mandated to organise the 3rd All-Ijaw National Convention and elect National officers in accordance with the new constitution. The communiqué also reiterated the call for the creation of three homogenous Ijaw States namely Toru-Ibe, Oil Rivers and Bayelsa.
At this point, the Ijaw National Congress is said to have taken its current shape and was ready for action. The INC was formed to amongst others to: i. Work for Ijaw Unity and promote Ijaw National Consciousness ii. Create a forum for all Ijaw people to meet to discuss the plight of Ijaws in Nigeria iii. Familiarise the Ijaw people with the problems of the various sections of the Ijaw Nation. iv. Adopt a coordinated centralised approach to finding solutions to the Ijaw Question in Nigeria.
In 1995, after several failed attempts to hold the 3rd National Convention, a Steering Committee was set up after the resolution of the INC "Crisis" by Ijaw Traditional Rulers, Elders and Ijaw Senior Military officers, to conduct the first democratic elections into the National Executive Council of Congress in accordance with the 1993 INC Constitution.
This convention elected the following officers of Congress:
its about the interest of the ijaw people.
INC organise various programes and events. To be abreast of happenings in the organisation click more
