By NWAORGU FAUSTINUS

A presidential candidate of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Mr. Wabiye Dikio, has lamented that greed and lack of purpose have derailed the vision the group after it had grown to be one of the most influential pressure groups in Southern Nigeria.

According to him, the position of the group on issues affecting the Ijaws and Nigeria at large has brought it to the limelight and kept it in a position of strength.

However, “this hard-earned recognition is gradually fading away. Greed, envy, lack of purpose and interference from ‘lifetime youth leaders’, have distorted the true purpose of the Council.”

In a statement made available to journalists recently, Dikio noted that any movement that does not promote progress is a failed project.

He reeled out some of questions thus: “What progress has the IYC promoted in the last couple of years? What difference has the IYC made, within the last couple of years? How many youths have gainfully benefited from the spoils of the ‘struggle’?”

“You and I know the answers to these, and many more disturbing questions,” Dikio said.

Continuing he said: “The truth is, the time for “struggle” has passed; now is the time for innovation and excellence. It’s time for the IYC to rub shoulders and compete with other Youth bodies around the world. It’s time for the IYC to project its finest rather than its fiercest. It’s time to cleanup, remold and rebrand this organisation that can transform the fortunes of the Niger Delta Region.

“The only way to achieve progress here is for progressive minded individuals to get involved. That is what I am doing; and I encourage all well-meaning sons and daughters of the Ijaw extraction to join me on this Journey of rediscovery.”

According to Dikio, “I have decided to run for the office of the National President of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide. I am not perfect, but I believe I have what it takes to stir this ship in the direction of progress.”