Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has successfully reconciled the warring factions of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, brokering a historic peace agreement between the two rival national presidents ahead of the council's 2026 elective convention. The reconciliation, which marks a major breakthrough in the protracted leadership crisis rocking the foremost Ijaw youth organisation, was achieved during an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
The governor brought together the factional leaders, Comrade Jonathan Lokpobiri and Dr. Theophilus Alaye, urging them to set aside their differences and work together in the larger interest of the Ijaw nation. In a dramatic gesture, Diri invited both leaders to the podium and asked them to publicly shake hands, symbolising a commitment to peace and unity. He also warned against the dangers of division, referencing the recent crisis that rocked the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and urging the youth leaders to learn from past mistakes. "Let us not pretend. As Ijaws, we are not where we want to be but we have come a long way. Ijaw youths will be one and they will be united," Diri said.
The governor emphasised that he was not imposing any candidate for the IYC presidency, insisting that the priority should be the emergence of a leader who can protect and advance the collective interest of the Ijaw nation. "As usual, I am not imposing any candidate. We need someone who has the interest of Ijaw nation at heart and that will fly our flag. We cannot be divided at this time. We can no longer have a factional leadership in the IYC," he stated.
Several former IYC presidents attended the meeting, including Dr. Felix Tuodolo, King Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, and Dr. Oyeinfie Jonjon, all of whom lent their voices to the call for peace. Dokubo-Asari, who also serves as the monarch of Elem-Kalabari Kingdom, stressed that the interest of the Ijaw nation was bigger than individual ambitions. "The unity we seek and desire is greater than all of us. We need to come together and confront those oppressing us," he said.
Observers have described the governor's intervention as a significant step toward ending the leadership tussle that has divided the IYC in recent months. The reconciliation is expected to pave the way for a united elective convention that would produce a widely accepted national leadership for the council, in line with the group's constitution. The IYC election is expected to hold next week, and stakeholders have expressed optimism that the peace deal will ensure a free, fair, and transparent process.
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