The Ijaw Women Rights Group has called for an urgent action for accountability, unity and transparency in the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC).
In a statement signed by Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, and made available to journalists in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, the Ijaw Women said due process should be followed in the activities of the INC.
The group described the current situation within the Ijaw nation as a setback which reflect a deep and growing concern among our people, saying that positive voices for solution must not be ignored or dismissed.
“They represent the conscience of a people committed to justice, order, and collective dignity”, they stated.
They noted the strength of the Ijaw nation has always rested on unity, respect for due process, and strict adherence to the constitutional and institutional frameworks.
Koripamo-Agary said that all stakeholders, including political leaders, traditional rulers, business leaders, youth constituencies, women leaders, and community voices, bear a collective responsibility to safeguard the integrity and credibility of the INC as the umbrella socio-cultural body of the Ijaw people.
She said despite appeals made in good faith to encourage dialogue and adherence to due process, the discredited executive leadership of the INC had gone ahead with elections regardless.
According to her “This development is deeply regrettable, unacceptable, and profoundly insulting to the collective sensibilities of the Ijaw people”.
She advised that constructive engagement, transparency, and accountability must remain the guiding principles for any legitimate process moving forward, expressing that “When disagreements are handled outside established constitutional procedures, the result is the erosion of public trust and the weakening of our collective voice.”
Koripamo-Agary regretted that “what we are witnessing is no longer a mere setback. It is a dangerous drift; one that reflects not only internal institutional failings but also clear and troubling signs of external interference aimed at weakening, dividing, and destabilising the Ijaw nation.
“We must not be naïve. History has repeatedly shown that divided communities are easier to manipulate, silence, and exploit. The current trajectory bears worrying indicators of coordinated interests: seen and unseen that do not wish the Ijaw nation to remain united, strong, and assertive in the pursuit of its legitimate aspirations.
At this critical moment, the question of leadership becomes unavoidable. Where are our leaders when the very soul of our collective institution is under strain? Silence in the face of institutional breakdown is not neutrality. It risks being interpreted as complicity.”
The group said unity without justice is fragile. “Unity without accountability is hollow. And unity without vigilance is dangerous.
“As Ijaw women, we state unequivocally that we will not be silent. Throughout history, women have stood as stabilizers, truth-tellers, and defenders of the conscience of our people. This moment is no different.”
They therefore called for renewed dialogue, anchored on truth, fairness, transparency, and strict adherence to due process, adding that “This dialogue must also be informed by a clear awareness of internal weaknesses and external forces seeking to undermine our unity.”
The women group further demands for “transparency, accountability, responsible leadership”, explaining that the dignity, security, and future of the Ijaw nation are not negotiable.
They questioned: “if leadership fails to act decisively to correct internal breakdowns and resist external interference, then what remains of our collective moral authority and unity?
“History has shown that when institutions fail and people are consistently pushed beyond acceptable limits, they inevitably seek new paths of collective assertion. However, our foremost commitment must remain peace, justice, and the preservation of the Ijaw nation through lawful and principled means”, Koripamo-Agary added.
Blessing Ibunge
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