The leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has refuted reports of infighting within the National Executive Council (NEC) of the organization.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President of the INC, and Chief Ezonebi Oyakemeaghegha, the Publicity Secretary, addressed recent insinuations regarding internal discord. They clarified that these rumors stemmed from two separate statements released on Monday concerning President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast on the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.
The officials explained that the perceived discord arose from differing focuses in the statements. Prof. Okaba’s statement highlighted the intent behind the President’s address, while Oyakemeaghegha’s addressed the content of the speech. They emphasized that the statements were complementary rather than contradictory.
“The two statements were not in conflict but were meant to provide a comprehensive view on the President’s address,” the officials stated. “It was the President’s direction that the Publicity Secretary’s statement follow his own, to ensure clarity and consistency in the INC’s response.”
The INC leadership urged Ijaw people to disregard the reports suggesting irreconcilable disagreements among the NEC members. They acknowledged that while differing opinions are natural, they do not indicate a breakdown in the organization’s unity.
“We call on the Ijaw community to focus on constructive dialogue and solutions rather than engaging in divisive blackmail,” the statement concluded. “Conflict, when managed properly, is essential for progress and should not be misinterpreted as a sign of disunity.”
