A former National Spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, has called on the parliament of the council to reject the nomination of Dr. Charles Ikimi as Chairman of the Electoral Committee (Eleco) for the forthcoming national elective convention.
Ekerefe, in a statement at the weekend, described the nominee as a “neophyte whose capacity and experience within the IYC structure are largely unknown,” insisting that such a sensitive position should not be entrusted to individuals without a verifiable track record in the council.
While acknowledging that the IYC President has the constitutional prerogative to nominate the Eleco chairman, Ekerefe argued that such powers must be exercised with discretion and in the overall interest of the organisation.
He stressed that the office of the Eleco chairman requires “tested hands with proven integrity, experience and institutional knowledge,” noting that the role is too crucial to be handled by individuals who have not actively participated in the council’s programmes or held leadership positions at the clan, zonal or national levels.
“Yes, the constitution empowers the President to make nominations, but it does not give room for arbitrary decisions. It certainly does not say that every Tom, Dick and Harry should be saddled with such a critical responsibility.
“The position of Eleco Chairman is not ceremonial; it is a delicate assignment that demands competence, character and credibility. You cannot hand over such a herculean task to someone who is still learning the ropes of the IYC,” Ekerefe said.
The former spokesman, however, clarified that his opposition was not borne out of personal grievances against the nominee but was driven by the need to protect the integrity of the council’s electoral process.
“I have no personal issues with Dr. Ikimi, but leadership is not just about academic qualifications. Capacity, character and experience are indispensable, and these must be evident and verifiable,” he stated.
Ekerefe further recalled what he described as the “golden era” of the council’s electoral process under Kingsley Kuku, a former IYC national spokesman who served as Eleco chairman.
According to him, it was during Kuku’s tenure that the council conducted one of its most credible elections, which produced Mr. Abiye Kuromiema as President in Ogulagha kingdom.
He accused past IYC leaderships of abusing the power of appointment by selecting loyalists rather than competent individuals, a development he said has contributed to recurring crises, factionalisation and disunity within the council.
“Kingsley Kuku set a standard that has remained unmatched. That election was widely adjudged free, fair and credible. Unfortunately, since then, successive administrations have deviated from that path.”
The former spokesman expressed disappointment that the current leadership, under Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri, whom he described as “a man reputed for high moral standing,” had failed to meet expectations in this regard.
He said: “Instead of appointing men of integrity and proven capacity, they prefer stooges who will do their bidding. That has been the bane of our transition process, leading to disputes, factions and avoidable instability.
“With his pedigree, many of us had no doubt that the president would appoint a widely respected individual capable of delivering a credible, peaceful and transparent election. Sadly, this nomination falls short of that expectation.
“If Dr. Chris Ekiyor had been selfish, he would not have appointed Kingsley Kuku, whose performance as Eleco chairman remains a benchmark. That is the kind of leadership the IYC needs.”
Ekerefe, therefore, urged members of the IYC parliament to demonstrate courage and uphold the integrity of the council by rejecting the nomination.
“The parliament must rise to the occasion and do the right thing. They should step down this nomination and ask the President to present a candidate whose record of service is known, whose capacity is not in doubt, and who will be acceptable across board”, Ekerefe stressed.
