NEDU MARK, Yenagoa
Leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide has expelled its Epietiama Clan chairman, Comrade Mieyeseigha Okoya for cult-related offense.
Following the expulsion, the Vice Chairman of the Clan, Mr. Kenneth Paul was appointed in an acting capacity by IYC President, Comrade Udengs Eradiri.
President IYC, Comrade Udengs Eradiri who pronounced the expulsion at Polaku Town Hall said the erring Clan chairman attacked the Palace of the Chief of Polaku, Chief Tarila Barnabas when the officials of IYC worldwide paid the royal father a visit on Thursday.
The IYC officials were in Polaku for a stakeholders’ meeting with youths, clans’ chairmen from Gbarain, Yenagoa, Epietiama and other Ijaw communities to tackle problems of unemployment, awards of contracts by oil companies operating in the clans.
Eradiri said, the officials and Executive committee of IYC would put in place every necessary papers to formalized the expulsion of Okoya.
“I have invoked the powers conferred on me as President of IYC to sanction Okoya as the Chairman, IYC, Epietiama Clan” Eradiri said.
“We are here in Polaku for a consultation meeting of IYC stakeholders for Gbarain, Yenagoa and Epietiama clans to resolve issues on employment, award of contracts before the cult group attacked the palace of the King of Polaku”.
He described the act by the expelled clan chairman as sacrilege and lamented that in no sooner time Ijaw communities could turn to become cult groups.
Describing the cult disturbance by Mieyeseigha Okoya-led cult group as indiscipline, Eradiri said ‘IYC will not make progress until we change our styles and orientations to issues bothering our common goal.’
