Nigeria: Battle for Control of PDP Youth Exco Intensifies in Bayelsa C

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Leadership (Abuja)

9 October 2008
Posted to the web 9 October 2008

Osa Okhomina
Yenagoa

The battle for the enthrownement of a Youth Executive Committee in Nembe Bassambiri Community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State was yesterday blamed for the bloody clash among rival groups in the area causing over twenty persons to sustain various degrees of injuries.

But the Special Adviser to Governor Timipre Sylva on Youths Matter, Mr. Israel Sunny Igoli has intervened in the lingering crisis between the youth's association and some chiefs in the troubled community and urged the warring parties to embrace dialogue.

LEADERSHIP gathered that no fewer than 20 people were injured in a bloody clash that involved youth groups in the community as a result of agitation by a section of the youths for election into the executive council of Nembe Youth Federation.

It was learnt that the crisis began at about 6.30p.m on Friday and continued till Saturday when the special adviser to the governor intervened. Some youths who were no longer comfortable with the alleged meddling in their affairs with the imposition of an interim Youth President from among the chiefs wrote a letter to the State Government for its intervention to order an election to fill the position.

This, however, did not go down well with some youths supporting the Chiefs who appointed the Interim President and it resulted in a clash when they got wind that the Special Adviser would call for an election. In the ensuing clash where dangerous weapons were freely used, 20 people were seriously injured.

But another version of some sections of the youths in the community revealed that politicians have hijacked the battle for the setting up of the Youth Association Executive with some notable members of the Governor Timipre Sylva pulling the strings.

It was gathered that the need for the State Governor and the Vice Chairman of the State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Dairu Obienu to have a grip on the Youth Body Executives may have pitted them against the 9-man Interim Committee set up by the Amayanabo and the Council of Chiefs to conduct an election for the setting up of the Youth Executive.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the Chairman of the Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Chief James Jephathet is the head of the Interim Committee. But the incident of political struggle for the grip on the Youth Executive, according to sources, could provoke his outster from office.

Igoli, in a chat with newsmen in Yenagoa yesterday, said the governor instructed him to wade into the matter to avoid further blood shed in the community.

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