Ijaw group to Niger Delta: Prioritise track record over election promises

…backs Tinubu for re-election

The Ijaw Youth Network (IYN) has appealed to the people of Niger Delta to look beyond campaign promises and political gimmicks during the election season.

The group urged them to make informed electoral choices based on proven achievements, policies, and a commitment to the region’s development. 

In a statement issued on Thursday by the President of IYN, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, the group said election periods often witnessed a surge in promises, political slogans and publicity stunts designed to attract voters, stressing that the people of the region must remain focused on their long-term interests.

The group said the electorate should critically assess the records of political actors, particularly their contributions to education, youth empowerment, human capital development and economic opportunities for communities across the Niger Delta.

According to the statement, the region’s future depends on its ability to recognise and support policies and initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to its people rather than being swayed by rhetoric that may not translate into meaningful development.

The IYN cited the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) as an example of an intervention whose impact should form part of the public’s assessment of government performance in the Niger Delta.

It noted that, under the leadership of the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, thousands of students have benefited from scholarship opportunities in Nigerian and overseas institutions, with many pursuing disciplines relevant to the region’s human capital development.

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The group attributed the opportunities to the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the expansion of the programme’s budget had strengthened its capacity to invest in education, skills acquisition and other interventions for beneficiaries from the Niger Delta, leading to the stability and peace of the region. 

It said the scholarship initiative represented an investment in the Niger Delta’s future by equipping young people with the knowledge and expertise needed to contribute to the development of their communities and the wider Nigerian economy.

“Elections are important moments in the life of any society, but they also come with promises, political calculations and campaign gimmicks. The people of the Niger Delta must not allow the excitement of the season to distract them from the issues that matter most to their future.

“Our people must ask critical questions about what political leaders have done, what they are doing and what their policies mean for the next generation. We must look beyond slogans and consider the tangible benefits that policies and programmes deliver to our communities,” the statement said.

The group maintained that education, youth development, peace-building and sustainable economic opportunities should remain central to political conversations in the Niger Delta, given the region’s history, challenges and development aspirations.

It stated that, based on the criteria above, President Tinubu has demonstrated a clear understanding of the Niger Delta challenges and a firm resolve to fix them by appointing the right people from the region and equipping them with the resources to overcome these challenges. 

 The IYN therefore stated that President Tinubu is head and shoulders above his political rivals and should be supported by the people of the Niger Delta for a second term. 

The group also called on young people to resist the temptation to trade their long-term interests for short-term inducements, urging them to participate peacefully in the electoral process and make decisions based on credible information.

It stressed that the region’s development required continuity in effective interventions, accountability in the management of public resources and sustained investment in the capacities of its young population.

The statement added that the people of the Niger Delta deserve to assess every administration and political candidate on the basis of policies, performance and measurable outcomes.

The group urged residents across the region to remain vigilant, peaceful and discerning throughout the election season, emphasising that their votes should reflect their aspirations for education, prosperity, security and a better future for generations to come.