Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
Sociology Professor at the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, has emerged as the new National President of the umbrella body of Ijaw elders, the Ijaw National Congress.
In the election held on Friday at Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Prof. Okaba defeated three other contenders, polling 162 votes, as against Fredrick Owotorufa, a lawyer, who garnered 111 votes. Also a one-time President of the Ijaw Youths Council, (IYC), Dr. Chris Ekiyor, took third position with 92 votes.
The three Vice Presidents that emerged after the poll are Tamuno.O. Tamuno, Alabo Nengi James (Central) and High Chief J. Williams.
James defeated the immediate past Director General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Donli, with a wide margin of 259 votes to 73 to emerge Vice President representing the Central zone. The National Publicity Secretary is Ezonnebi Oyakemegbegha.
Okaba was the pioneer Chairman of Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), Delta State chapter.
He is an Associate member of Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) and serves as member of the Board of Trustees of the Conarina School of Maritime Transport and Management Technology, Oria-Abraka, Delta State.
In his victory speech, Okaba commended the indigenes of the Ijaw nation, the delegates, the electoral committee for conducting a hitch-free election.
He also lauded the security agencies for providing adequate security during the poll.
In his speech after the election, Dr Ekiyor, who expressed misgivings over noticeable anomalies in the e-voting adopted for the election, said the election started before the time generally agreed, which was 11 am.
He said it was clearly noted that before the above time, a candidate has already got above 30 votes and that gave them a lot of concern.
He also said: “It was observed that my votes were moving in a rather unconventional form allowing IT experts to conclude that that could be the handiwork of an expert deliberately lowering my eventual total votes.
“This, however, may not be deliberate but it’s pertinent that these issues are stated for record and to allow for future improvement of the process. In spite of the above highlighted errors, one must compliment and commend the good work of all the parties that worked very hard to deliver this election successfully. It was a great departure from our gloomy past and clearly it is the dawn of a new beginning in Ijaw nation”
Also commenting on the election, the National Spokesman of the umbrella body of the Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Ebilade Ekerefe, commended the Bayelsa Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for providing the peaceful atmosphere with which the INC election was conducted.
Ekerefe said: “Let me on behalf of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, commend Douye Diri for providing the enabling environment upon which the electoral committee under the chairmanship of His Royal Majesty, Emeritus Professor, Fubara Dagogo, could conduct a free, fair and credible elections through an e-electronic voting system at the Ijaw, Yenagoa, without any interference.
“I congratulate Prof. Benjamin Okaka for his resounding victory at the polls and pray God to give him the wisdom and knowledge to pilot the affairs of the INC as President at a time the Ijaw nation is looking for strategic direction.
“There is a lot of work that needs to be done and the IYC under the leadership of Peter Igbifa is looking forward to working closely with him and his exco to deliver the fundamental Ijaw national interest under a Nigerian state that is currently nosediving.”