CAN OUR GENERATION SUSTAIN OUR IJAWNESS?

By Nelson Abali, Esq.

TRACKING >>Blessed by God Almighty with abundant Human and Natural resources, the Ijaw Nation has had a chequered history of mere-survivalisation, colonization, victimisation, subjugation, exploitation, bastardization and balkanization.

The Ijaw Stock having been Jaw-broken, Pigeon-holed and strangle-held and in dire need of betterment and development in all spheres, is at a crossroad and donot need a Jewish Prophet to remind her of the urgent need for stock-taking, especially at this critical era, wherein free and fair elections seem a far cry.

Agreeably, the Ijaws have somewhat progressed individually and collectively but there is still room for improvement.
And the Ijaws yearn for such.

If a better Ijaw Nation must be realised in no distant time, then the following must be considered and executed:

– Strengthening of critical Ijaw institutions and standardization of processes.
– The Ijaw umbrella bodies of INC and IYC as well as affiliate movements must retool, recalibrate, refuel and refire from all cylinders to realise God-given potentials and render effective services.

– Draft and implement a pan-Ijaw Development Plan with resourceful Think-Tank and formidable Action Committee.

– Draft, protect and project a generally accepted supreme Ijaw interest per time.

– Abolition of the core and non-core Ijaw dichotomy and practices.

– Rediscovery, remapping and reclamation of Ijaw boundaries and territories.

– Giving of sense of belonging to all Ijaws wherever they are and may be as well as protection from dominance from other Tribes and groups.

– Deliberate and wilful Mentorship, grooming and positioning of indigenous Youths in all meaningful endeavours.

– Inspiration of Ijaw Nationalism and Patriotism.

– Codification and preservation of Ijaw Culture and Traditions for posterity.

– Draft and adoption of a comprehensive Ijaw Charter of Demands.

– Promotion of Ijaw Unity and oneness.

– Operationalisation of an effective layer-based leadership recruitment and capacity building programme and processes.

– Organisation of inductions into Ijaw Halls of Fame and infamy to reward pro-Ijaw heroism and rebuke anti-Ijaw activities, respectively.

Unless this present generation achieve these and more, our IJAWNESS stands the risk of being detained rather than being sustained.

It can be done,
It will be done,
If it’s not done,
then we are done.

Nelson Abali, Esq
www.nelsonabali.com