Notable Ijaw leaders have settled many years of protracted factionalized leadership of the the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide ending an era of disunity in the organisation.

The Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri; the Founder of the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Government Ekpumpolo alias Tompolo; the pioneer Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku; a former President of the IYC, Udengs Eradiri, His Royal Majesty, King Asari Dokubo and other Ijaw leaders were said to have led the reconciliation that ended the protracted internal rift in the youth body.

The influence of IYC, a vibrant Ijaw youths’ movement, was reportedly whittled down by a internal disagreements that saw two presidents laying claims to the leadership of the organisation.

During the period described by some leaders as the dark era, the IYC was compelled to speak in different tunes and to take divisive actions on same issues affecting the Ijaw local and national interests.

But prior to the recent congress that produced Dr Doubra Collins Okotete as the new President-elect of the IYC, it was gathered that Ijaw leaders decided to end the factional leadership of the IYC.

The leaders were said to have first reconciled the two factional presidents of the body, Jonathan Lokpobiri and Dr Theophilus Alaye.

It was gathered that Diri and others held marathon meetings with Lokpobiri and Alaiye to avert their initial decisions to hold factional congresses.

It was gathered that after a lot of pressure on the two presidents especially on Alaye, who was opposed throughout his tenure by many Ijaw leaders, the duo decided to sheathe their swords and participate in one congress.

At the Bayelsa State venue of the congress, the two presidents embraced each other and vowed to elect one leadership for the IYC.

Speaking on the reconciliation, Lokpobiri, said peace and unity of Ijaw nation superceded every other interest.

“As the President of council, I have found the wisdom in the need for a united Ijaw nation to enable us tackle the challenges facing the Ijaw Nation in a United House. The issues that have divided us have rather divided the Ijaw Nation more and I believe that giving certain concessions to certain people among us is not something too big to do”.

Alaye commended Diri for seeking the unification of the council’s leadership and vowed to adhere to the agreements that led to the reconciliation.

He said: ” I thank Douye Diri And stakeholders who thought it wise that their should be unity. We have shifted grounds and we have accommodated ourselves and by the grace of God we will have a competent formidable 10th IYC executive council that will pilot the affairs of the IYC for the next three years”.

Speaking after the election, Eradiri commended all the leaders especially Governor Diri, who engineered the reconciliation.

He said: “We must thank Governor Diri, who as the Governor-General of Ijaw Nation stepped in and brought leaders together to resolve the conflict. We commend our leader, Tompolo for the roles he played, His Highness Alhaji Asari Dokibo for all he did and Kingsley Kuku, who as usual is always found in the peace Nigeria has enjoyed from the Niger Delta.

“We must appreciate Lokpobiri the outgoing president who made a lot of sacrifices as well as Dr Alaiye for accepting that peace and unity of Ijaw nation is bigger than all their personal interest. But the governor has the credit for painstakingly putting this team together to ensure that this process sees the light of the day”.

Eradiri said the Ijaw leaders while resolving the crisis, considered the remote causes of the impasse and put mechanism in place to avoid recurrence.

He warned the new leadership of IYC against partisan politics saying it was one of the causes of the IYC problems.

He recalled that the problem degenerated when the IYC got involved in the Rivers State political adding that the council had no business with partisan politics.

He said: ” I know that going forward it will be difficult for us to have another faction because the two warring factions came together to produce this leadership. We looked at the remote causes of the problem to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. We are also looking at introducing new measures to strengthen the IYC.

“I don’t think there is going to be litigations be ause we did everything possible to bring all interest on one table. The election held in a peaceful environment. It took us hours to deliberate and negotiate before we went into the election. We are looking forward to the 22nd of July when the leadership will be sworn in.

“The President that was elected is not a new comer in the IYC. They must insulate the organisation from partisan politics. Once you become the President of IYC you cannot participate in any political activity. You are supposed to be a leader cut across all political divide.

“When we got ourselves enmeshed in Wike and Fubara crisis it further divided us. It doesn’t concern our institutions. They must stay away from partisan politics. You don’t need to go and be endorsing people.

“You are President of IYC and the IYC cannot participate in partisan politics. Politics has always been the foundation of the crisis we have had over the years. I have absolute confidence in the Okotete leadership and I know he will pilot the affairs of the council very well”.

The President-elect of the IYC, Dr. Doubra Collins Okotete described his emergence as the triumph of unity, peace, democracy and the collective will of the Ijaw people, calling on all contestants and stakeholders to put the election behind them and work together for the progress of the organisation.

In a statement issued after the conclusion of the 2026 IYC national election, Okotete expressed gratitude to the 117 delegates who participated in the poll, saying their confidence in him and the newly elected 10th National Executive Council (NEC) was humbling and inspiring.

He said: “Today, we celebrate not merely an electoral victory, but the triumph of unity, peace, democracy and the collective will of the Ijaw people. Indeed, this is a victory for the entire Ijaw Nation.”

The president-elect thanked supporters across the council’s chapters for standing by his vision throughout the campaign, pledging to provide inclusive and service-driven leadership.

Okotete also acknowledged the roles played by prominent Ijaw leaders and stakeholders in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the election.

He specifically appreciated Bayelsa State Governor and Governor-General of the Ijaw Nation, Senator Douye Diri; High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo); HRM King Alhaji Dokubo-Asari; HRM Dr. Ateke Michael Tom; High Chief (Engr.) Kestin Pondi; the founding fathers of the IYC; the Bayelsa State Government; and the outgoing 9th National Executive Council led by Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri.

He also commended the National Electoral Committee (NECOM), chaired by Dr. Charles Ikimi, for conducting what he described as a peaceful, free, fair, transparent and credible election.

Okotete extended appreciation to his campaign team led by Dr. Ijonama Mkpon Amon, benefactors, traditional rulers, elders, family members, friends and supporters for their contributions to his victory.

He also praised fellow aspirants who stepped down or made sacrifices in the interest of unity, describing their actions as demonstrations of statesmanship and commitment to the Ijaw cause.

Calling for reconciliation after the election, the IYC president-elect urged all contestants and their supporters to unite behind a common vision.

“The contest is over; now is the time to close ranks, heal every divide, and work together in unity to build a stronger, more united, more inclusive and more progressive Ijaw Youth Council for the benefit of present and future generations,” he said.

Okotete said attention would now shift to the inauguration of the 10th National Executive Council, scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

He expressed optimism that the incoming leadership would advance the interests of the Ijaw Nation through unity, dedicated service and purposeful leadership.

“Together, united in purpose and driven by service, we shall advance the cause of the Ijaw Nation and build a stronger, more prosperous future for our people,” he added. (The Nation)

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