READ FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT TINUBU’S INAUGURAL SPEECH.
My Fellow Citizens,
I stand before you honoured to assume the sacred mandate you have given me. My love for this nation is abiding. My confidence in its people, unwavering. And my faith in God Almighty, absolute. I know that His hand shall provide the needed moral strength and clarity of purpose in those instances when we seem to have reached the limits of our human capacity.
This day is bold and majestic yet bright and full of spirit, as is our precious nation.
As a nation, we have long ago decided to march beyond the dimness of night into the open day of renewed national hope.
We must now decide whether to stick to the work required to create a better society or to hide in the shadows of our untapped potential. I can think of only one solution. We are too strong a country and too firmly rooted as a people to deprive ourselves of our greatest potential. Millions of people have prayed for this country, and our collective sacrifices have influenced its journey.
We have faced challenges that might have caused other societies to disintegrate. The hope of a brighter future, however, merges with our enhanced ability to shape that future at this SUBLIME moment because we have carried the great load to get there. We have more solidly established this country as a democracy in both word and deed, surprising many but not ourselves
Our political heritage today emphasizes a smooth transition from one government to another. This transfer of power is a representation of our faith in God, our steadfast belief in representative government, and our confidence in our ability to remake this country into the kind of society it was always meant to be. Permit me to now address President Muhammadu Buhari, my predecessor. You have been a trustworthy, patriotic leader who has done your best for the country you adore, Mr. President. You are a deserving friend and partner, to put it more personally. I hope History treats you well.
Critics of Nigeria have been spreading the myth that our country will disintegrate or possibly perish for many years.
However, here we are. We have made mistakes along the way, but our tenacity and diversity have seen us through. Sometimes our burdens may cause us to stoop, but they will not ever cause us to fall. As the most populous country in Africa, the Black Race’s best hope, and its most steadfast defender, we stand out instead. As citizens, we therefore vow that Nigeria shall endure so long as this earth endures, as one unified people committed to one undivided national cause. The torch of human growth is now in our hands as Fate and Destiny come together. We cannot allow it to slip. We raise this flame aloft in order for it to shine on every home and in every heart that claims to be Nigerian. We raise this beam because it illuminates our way with kindness, unity, and peace. May this brilliant light never go out.
Although we will rule on your behalf, we will never be in charge of you. We will talk and consult, but we will never give orders. We will be inclusive of everyone and never disparage someone for possessing opinions that differ from our own. This nation needs to be further repaired and healed, not torn apart and damaged. In keeping with this, allow me to make a few observations about the election that led to this point. It was a competitive battle. Additionally, it was won fairly. Nigeria has not held an election of higher caliber since the establishment of the Fourth Republic. The result reflected the people’s wishes. However, despite winning, I am no more a Nigerian than my rivals. They are not any less patriotic as a result. They will always be considered my fellow citizens. And I shall treat them accordingly. They stand for significant constituencies and issues that wisdom would be foolish to dismiss. They have brought legal action on their behalf. They have the right to seek legal remedies, and I fully support them in exercising this right. The foundation of the rule of law is this.
Our founding ancestors valiantly sacrificed themselves more than 60 years ago to establish Nigeria as an independent country. The work done by those who came before us must never wither, but must instead blossom and give birth to a better world. Let us move forward with the mission they started and believed in. Let us renew our commitment to making Nigeria, regardless of creed, ethnicity, or place of origin, the indispensable home for each and every one of us. Thank you to all of my fans. I reach out across the aisle to folks who cast different ballots. I beg you to understand it in terms of brotherhood and national connection. Political overtones have vanished in my opinion. Nigerians are all I can see. May we sustain these excellent ideas as the new Nigerian standard.
My fellow citizens, The Nigerian ideal I am referring to is more comprehensive than only an increase in economic and other statistics. Although these items are significant, they can never fully communicate our story. Our goal is to make changes to our way of life that foster our humanity, promote kindness toward one another, and appropriately honor our group’s efforts to address the social issues that seek to divide us. We have a nation on paper thanks to our constitution and laws. By deepening the ties of economic cooperation, social solidarity, and cultural understanding, we must work harder to bring these beautiful documents to life. Let us cultivate a spirit of justice and equity among us. The South must recognize that good for the North advances its own interests in addition to seeking good for itself. The South must be seen similarly by the North. You are all my people, whether you come from the twisting creeks of the Niger Delta, the wide northern savannah, the boardrooms of Lagos, the humming capital of Abuja, or the bustling markets of Onitsha. As your president, I will act impartially toward everyone and with compassion for everyone.
My team will make critical details of our initiative public in the days and weeks to come. Today, allow me to briefly describe a few programs that embody our vision of progressive good governance in support of the Nigerian ideal: The simple guiding ideas for our administration are as follows:
1. Nigeria will be impartially administered in accordance with the law and the constitution.
2. We will protect the country from terrorism and all other types of criminal activity that put the peace and stability of both our nation and our area in danger.
3. We will restructure our economy to promote growth and development by generating jobs, ensuring food security, and putting an end to severe poverty.
4. Women and young people will take center stage in our administration.
5. To deter corruption and increase the efficacy and efficiency of the various anti-corruption institutions, our administration will continue to adopt proactive measures such promoting a credit culture. SECURITY Our administration’s main goal must be security because, in an environment of instability and violence, neither prosperity nor justice can triumph. Both our security DOCTRINE and its ARCHITECTURE will need to be changed if we are to effectively combat this threat. In order to enhance our investment in security professionals, we must do more than simply hire additional people. We will offer greater instruction, gear, salary, and firepower
OUR ECONOMY
In terms of the economy, our goals are to drastically lower unemployment and increase GDP growth. The following actions are what we plan to take to achieve this: First, there will be a budgetary reform that stimulates the economy without causing inflation. Second, industrial policy would make use of all available fiscal tools to support domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports. Third, both homes and businesses will be able to obtain and afford electricity. Networks for transmission and distribution should be strengthened, and power generation should nearly double. States will be urged to create local sources as well. I want to let both domestic and foreign investors know that our government would look into all of their grievances regarding excessive taxation and other investment-inhibiting measures.
We will make sure that international corporations and investors return their hard-earned dividends and profits to their native countries. JOBS My administration must provide our youth with worthwhile opportunities. We will keep our promise from the campaign to create a million new employment in the digital sector. Additionally, our government will collaborate with the National Assembly to draft a comprehensive Jobs and Prosperity measure. This legislation would grant our administration the freedom to pursue labor-intensive infrastructure upgrades, support light industry, and enhance social services for the underprivileged, old, and vulnerable. Agriculture Commodity exchange boards must guarantee minimum prices for specific crops and animal products in order to protect rural incomes. There will be a national program for storage and other facilities to cut waste and spoiling.
To boost production and engage in value-added processing, agricultural centers will be established across the country. The livestock industry will be made aware of the best contemporary techniques and the measures taken to lessen the industry’s ongoing disputes over land and water resources. These steps will increase food availability while lowering its price. Farmers would make more money while paying less on average in Nigeria. More on President Tinubu Inaugural Speech INFRASTRUCTURE The Buhari administration’s work on infrastructure will continue. Priority should be given to developments in the national rail, road, and port networks.
FUEL SUBSIDY
We applaud the outgoing administration’s decision to phase out the fuel subsidy system, which has progressively favored the wealthy over the poor. In the context of depleting resources, subsidies can no longer be used to justify their ever-rising prices. Instead, we will reinvest the money in better public infrastructure, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities that will significantly better millions of people’s lives. FINANCIAL POLITICS A comprehensive spring cleaning is required for monetary policy. To achieve a single exchange rate, the Central Bank must work. As a result, money will be diverted from arbitrage into significant investments in the machinery, tools, and employment that drive the actual economy. To promote consumer spending and investment in ways that support the economy at a greater level, interest rates must be decreased. Despite any conceptual virtues, considering the number of unbanked Nigerians, the CBN overly implemented the currency swap. A review of the policy is required. My administration will treat both currencies as legal money in the interim. INTERNAL POLICY
Please allow me to make a few foreign policy thoughts given the world we live in. It is urgently concerning that some countries in our near neighborhood have turned away from democracy and the catastrophe in Sudan. The peace and security of the African continent and the West African subregion must thus be my top priority in terms of foreign policy. To put an end to ongoing crises and prevent new ones, we will collaborate with ECOWAS, the AU, and other willing partners in the international community. We will restructure our foreign policy to more actively lead the regional and continental search for collective prosperity while we contain challenges to peace.
Conclusion
The proudest day of my life is right now. However, I do not own this day. You, the Nigerian people, are the rightful owners. Nigeria proclaims on this day that it belongs among the major democracies of the globe. Nigeria will live there forever. We have arrived at this unique time thanks to the progression of our past and the promise of the future. So that the Nigerian ideal turns into and always stays the Nigerian reality, I want you to work with me to make Nigeria a more ideal country and democracy. Because I am the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I go by the name Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I can confidently state that these things are within our immediate reach. Godspeed, and may He also bless our cherished country.
By Prof. Ben Binebai
Today we embark on a journey through the annals of history, to unravel the mystique of the 12-Day Revolution, a central event in the Ijaw freedom struggle. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, an Ijaw freedom fighter, declared the Niger Delta Republic in 1966, igniting a flame that would burn for generations. He is a Nigerian nationalist and military officer. Isaac Adaka Boro was born on September 10, 1938, in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State, to Pepple Boro, a school headmaster. He excelled academically, earning his First School Leaving Certificate with distinction and later passing the West African School Certificate Examination at Hussey College, Warri, in 1957. Boro’s activism began as a student leader at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he championed for the rights of minority groups. Isaac Boro’s 12 day revolution was ignited by ijaw conditions of subalternity and Sisypheannism in Nigeria.
The Ijaw Struggle: A Saga of Subalternity
Ijaws have been subalterns, subjected to the whims of colonial governance to this era of post-colonial governmentality under the control of fellow countrymen. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was cursed to roll a massive boulder up a steep hill, only for it to roll back down each time he reached the top, forcing him to start anew. This cycle of pushing the boulder up the hill, only to see it roll back down, is a potent symbol of the Ijaw people’s struggles Like a Sisyphean task, we have pushed the boulder of oppression up the mountain, only to see it roll back down, crushing our spirits.. Just like Sisyphus, the Ijaw nation has faced numerous challenges and setbacks in her quest for justice and equality. Despite efforts to push forward, we often find ourselves back at the starting point, with little to show for our struggles. This Sisyphean connection between Ijaw and Sisyphus can be seen in various aspects of the Ijaw struggle, including:
1. Environmental degradation: Despite their efforts to protect their environment, the Ijaw people continue to suffer from oil spills, gas flaring, and other forms of environmental degradation.
2. Marginalization: The Ijaw people have been marginalized and excluded from decision-making processes, despite their significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy.
3. Lack of infrastructure: Despite their efforts to demand better infrastructure, the Ijaw people continue to suffer from poor roads, inadequate healthcare, and lack of access to basic necessities.
4. Violence and militarization: The Ijaw people have faced violence and militarization, with their communities often being the site of conflicts between security forces and militant groups.
I SAAC Boros 12 day revolution is also influenced by preceding phases of ijaw struggle in which Ijaw towns were destroyed along with their vocal voices of liberation in one form or the other. These stages have produced four period set of liberation fighters. From 1895 when King Koko took up arms against the oppressive Royal Niger Company of the British to this era of the struggle; the Ijaws of the Niger Delta have put in 130 years of liberation struggle. The first period of struggle lasted for 45years (1895-1940) the period from Dappa Biriye 1940 to Isaac Boro revolution of 1966 took 26 years. From the Boro revolutionary epoch of 1966 to the era of the Ijaw youth’s declaration of freedom at Kaiama up to this time (2025), the struggle has recorded another 55years.
Today, let us strongly remember the first people who fought for the liberation of the Ijaw nation. They were the traditional rulers and prominent chiefs of the colonial era. The Opobos under king Jaja, the Nembes under King Frederick Williams Ofrimalekeleke Koko, King Ibanchuka of Okrika, the Oborotu of Iduwini under the military command of Taiyan, Ayakoromo under the Ondukus and Agias and Chief Ambakederemo of Kiagbodo. The setting of this period in history is the 19th and 20th centuries. Precisely between the early 1880s to the first four decades of the 20th century. These struggles brought nothing but devastation to Ijaw clans and communities.
Let us also remember educated Ijaw sons, patriots and nationalists Ernest Ikoli, a veteran politician and journalist, Chief Harold Dappa Biriye, Chief F.H.E. Brisibe, OFR, Chief George Albert Weikezi, Harris Ozeke, Prince H E. Odoundiri, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, , Sam Timinipre Owonaru, Captain Nottingham Dick, His Royal Majesty King Alfred Diete Spiff Pastor power Ziakede Aginighan Professor Christopher Dime, Professor Kimse Okoko, Dr. Amba Ambaowei, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, Frank Opigo, Captain George Amangala, Chief Anthony Francis Oladipo Engurube, Barrister Oronto Douglas etc Their approach was characterized by political representation and intellectual persuasion.
Why Isaac Boro declared Niger Delta Republic:
On February 23, 1966, Boro declared the secession of the Niger Delta from the rest of Nigeria, citing neglect and underdevelopment despite being the hub of oil production. He formed the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, composed of young men from various Ijaw clans. The revolution lasted 12 days before federal forces defeated them, and Boro was jailed for treason.
The 12 day revolution was an epic battle against the politics to control the liquid gold economy by the Nigerian political hegemonic philistinic and ethnocentric collaborators. Isaac Boro’s declaration has a separatist spirit, temper and manifesto. This is because it is not a struggle for recognition within Nigeria but a struggle to own and operate a separate independent nation. This present phase of freedom struggle is a further embodiment of the proverbial 12 days Revolution of Boro. The 12 days revolution after all is twelve days in time length but it has countless generational penetration. The revolution that started in 1966 is still on today.
Primarily, the 12 day revolution is about neglect and underdevelopment. Despite being the hub of oil production in Nigeria, the Ijaw area is neglected. This negligence resulted in pathological and wide spread poverty, environmental degradation and lack of basic infrastructure. It was further propelled by resource control, greater control of the resources of Ijaw nation which advocated for a more equitable distribution of revenues derived from the areas natural resources.
The 12 days revolution also highled the struggle for minority and oppressed peoples rights and privileges in Nigeria, seeking greater recognition, representation and liberties. The Revolution is also about expression of political and economic anxieties. The best way to explain this is the awareness of the strong feeling of marginalisation, balkanisation, exclusion and subalternisation. The revolution is also inflamed by Ijaw national sentiment. It was driven by a strong sense of nationalism and a desire for self-determination. He sought to assert the republics autonomy and control over its god given resources.It a struggle based on the vision for Ijaw self-actualisation through the use of arm. Focussing on separatism nationalism. Interestingly, Adaka Boro’s struggle produced Boroism as: A philosophy, ideology, theory, principle, movement, politics, psychology And Literature of Ijaw struggle which has sustained the Ijaw struggle to date. It a revolution based on control of the oil in Ijaw land. ,
Observably, oil, is the why Nigeria is united by disunity and disunited by unity, it is what makes Nigeria great; ironically, it is what disunites Ijaw and her neighbours. It is the reason for the nation’s development and the reason for the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta. It is the reason for the unity of major ethnic nations and the reason for the criminal balkanization of the Ijaws. It is the reason Nigeria is tyrannised by lopsided beauty and judgement, held firmly by titanic and acidic corruption and corrupted pathologically by greedy totalitarianism. It is the reason for many forms of violence – political, ideological, historical, psychological, geographical, and epistemic violence. It is the reason for Ijaw subalternity and ‘Sisypheannism’, the reason for perpetual political domination, economic cannibalism, and what Esiaba Irobi called political attackancy in his seminal drama, and Hangmen also die (Binebai 4).
The Niger Delta which was declared a republic by Isaac Boro is hitherto, a hotbed for major confrontations between its people and the Nigerian military. Its freedom fighters have experienced extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detentions, and brutal violation of rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly due to protests against the activities of multinational companies and hegemonic subjugation. The scope of this lecture mandates me to reflect also on the gains and pains of the Isaac boro 12 day revolution.
Gains of the 12 days Revolution
It brought about Resource Control Awareness: Boro’s revolution raised awareness about the need for resource control and equitable distribution of oil revenue. Boro’s 12 days revolution inspired future generations, including Ken Saro-Wiwa, P.Z Aginighan DSP Alamieyeseigha. The revolution highlighted also the struggles of minority groups in Nigeria and the need for greater recognition and representation. It contributed to the creation of Rivers state and even Bayelsa State. It gave cultural identity and agency to the ijaw nation. It prepared the way for the emergence of new set of dependable leaders like Tompolo and other Niger Delta activists.
As a researcher, I have sought to capture the essence of Tompolo’s remarkable story, plaiting together historical context, and political analysis to create a distinctive representation of a leader who has defied conventions and redefined the boundaries of possibility. I explored the central instants, judgments, and relationships that have fashioned Tompolo’s trajectory, and to distill the lessons and insights that have made him an iconic symbol in contemporary Nigerian politics.
Pains of the 12 days Revolution
Loss of Life: Boro’s revolution was short-lived, and he was eventually killed in action during the Nigerian Civil War in 1968. Several towns and villages across the ages have been burnt and destroyed and many lives lost.
Despite Boro’s efforts, the Niger Delta region continues to face marginalization, environmental degradation, poverty and unfulfilled Promises: The federal government’s promises of development and resource control remain unfulfilled, fueling ongoing agitation in the region. Let me state clearly that Ijaw is strongly facing 30 problems in Nigeria. Betrayal, Inter-ethnic wars, discrimination, segregation, nepotism, ethnocentrism, sectionalism, Subalternization. Underdevelopment, invisibility, poor leadership, environmental degradation Oil pollution, gas flaring, lack of infrastructure, unemployment, poverty, marginalization, exclusion from decision-making processes, cultural erosion, language endangerment, historical injustices, land grabbing, displacement from ancestral lands, human rights abuses, suppression of self-expression, limited access to education, inadequate healthcare, corruption, institutionalised oppression.
Some of the major Unending Problems of Ijaw Nation are: Political balkanisation- divided into several states for oppression and exploitation, economic subjugation and dislocation- we cannot control our wealth, ecological degradation, post-colonial governmentality- how structures of power regulate and undermine Ijaw growth in Nigeria, Marginalisation- we suffer discrimination, limited access to education, health care, underrepresentation, legal legislative and constitutional tyranny. Subalternisation – social exclusion Invisibility, Lack of voice and agency. These problems are interconnected and have been perpetuated by a complex web of historical, economic, and political factors. Addressing these challenges will require a sustained and collective effort from the Ijaw people, their neighbors, and the Nigerian government.
The Ijaw experience of Sisyphean connection highlights the need for a new approach, one that recognises the futility of the current cycle of struggle and seeks to break free from it. It emphasizes the importance of finding new ways to address the challenges faced by the Ijaw people, rather than simply pushing the same boulder up the hill. By acknowledging the Sisyphean nature of Ijaw struggle, we can begin to explore new strategies and approaches that can help them achieve their goals and break the cycle of futility. As a subaltern tribe, the Ijaw people have been marginalized and excluded from positions of power and influence. Our voices are often silenced or ignored, and our concerns are dismissed as inferior or unimportant. This subaltern status has contributed to our Sisyphean existence, where we are forced to repeatedly push against the weight of oppression, only to see our efforts seemingly undone.
The need for new methods for the Ijaw freedom struggle.
Apart from: – Shift from Armed struggle, armed confrontation to non-violent civil disobedience, broadening the support base by building a more inclusive movement beyond the Ijaw ethnic nationality, efforts towards sustainable development and environmental justice, emphasis on political strategies. Through lobbying and institutional channels, leveraging legal and institutional channels, internationalization of the struggle by seeking support and solidarity from the global community. And embracing religion, the religion of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, I propose Ijaw psychological unity, it will bring strength in numbers, coordinated strategy, shared vision and purpose, resource mobilisation, international support, collective resilience against suppression, bridging differences and presenting a cohesive front.
In the annals of Nigerian history, few events have captured the essence of resistance and defiance as the 12-Day Revolution of Isaac Adaka Boro. This pivotal moment in the Ijaw struggle for self-determination and resource control continues to inspire generations of activists, scholars, and freedom fighters. As we reflect on the gains and pains of this revolution, we are reminded of the enduring power of courage, conviction, and collective action in the face of oppression. By acknowledging Ijaw as a subaltern Sisyphean tribe, we can begin to understand the depth of our struggles and the need for solidarity and support. It emphasizes the importance of listening to our voices, amplifying our concerns, and working towards a more just and equitable society.
The 12-Day Revolution of Isaac Adaka Boro may have been short-lived, but its impact on the Ijaw struggle and Nigerian history is indelible. As we honour the legacy of this courageous leader, we are compelled to continue the fight for justice, equality, and self-determination. May the spirit of Boro’s revolution inspire us to build a more just and equitable society, where the rights and dignity of all people are respected and protected. The revolution may be over, but the struggle continues.
Voice of the Niger Delta, 2021.
Being text of Pre-Boro Day Press Briefing Held this day, 15th of May 2025, by the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, as part of activities marking the 57th celebration of late Maj. Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro.
1. Fellow Nigerians, Niger Deltans, particularly our dear and patriotic Ijaw nation, today it has been 57 solid years that a true freedom fighter, a champion of minority rights movement in Nigeria, a true liberator and a pathfinder, Maj. Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro left us while fighting for the indivisibility of Nigeria. It is with all sense of responsibility that the IYC is taking it upon itself to reflect on the ideals of Boro. That is why we tagged this year’s theme as “Maj Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro, celebrating the legacy, rekindling the struggle “.
2. In 1966, Boro established the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, an armed group primarily composed of members of the Ijaw ethnic group, and proclaimed the Niger Delta Republic on the 23rd of February 1966. This declaration led to a conflict with federal forces, lasting twelve days before Boro and his associates were apprehended and charged with treason. They were later granted amnesty by the federal government under General Yakubu Gowon in May 1967, shortly before the Nigerian Civil War.
3. However, Boro, after being released from prison by the Federal Government of Nigeria, was one of the unsung champions of the Nigerian civil war; he fought and died for the indivisibility of Nigeria as a nation. He died while fighting and defending our dear nation from disintegration.
4. Considering the sacrifices of Boro, it is our call on the Federal Government of Nigeria that it is now time for the Federal Government of Nigeria to honour Boro as a young man who laid down his life for the nation at the age of 29 years. The Federal Government should do well by declaring May 16th every year as public holiday to honour late Maj. Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro.
5. The IYC is suggesting that the Port Harcourt International Airport be named after Boro, Federal Government Institutions either in Abuja be named after him, it could be major roads within and outside the Niger Delta or other critical facilities in order to immortalise him for his struggles not to go in vain.
6. While the Bayelsa State Government has been doing a lot in immortalising Boro, we urge the Rivers State Government to do the same as Rivers State was also created to compensate the late Ijaw hero, late Maj. Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro.
The Unity of Ijaw Nation
7. It has been said that when spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion. At this point, the Ijaw nation needs to be united more than ever. We must not allow politics and other things to divide us. We are one united big family. What binds us together is greater than what can divide us. Our strength lies in our unity.
8. Dear sons and daughters of Ijaw nation, as we deeply reflect on what Boro fought and died for, let us always protect ourselves as Ijaw people in the Nigerian State; till date, we are still struggling to have a sense of belonging in the Nigerian State as major stakeholders that we should be.
9. Let us give support to our leaders holding positions in the Government; we must learn from others. Hardly have we seen youths from other ethnic groups attacking their leaders holding positions in the Government publicly despite their inefficiencies. We must not paint a picture that our people occupying political offices are not doing well when, in the real sense, they are the best in the current Tinubu-led government. From the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) under High Chief Dennis Otuaro PhD, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under the firm leadership of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku to Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, State Minister, Petroleum Resources (Oil) Federal Republic of Nigeria, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited under our father and leader, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), and other Ijaws in the Government are doing well. We must stand with them.
10. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should quickly work with the stakeholders in Warri Federal Constituency with a view to quickly implementing their draft report on the wards’ delineation. INEC must know that we are no longer going back to the previous fraudulent and illegal arrangement in Warri Federal Constituency. The DSS and the federal government must bring to justice the criminal elements who try to smuggle arms into Delta State to cause trouble. The federal government and its security agencies must not continue to remain silent on this life-threatening matter.
Rivers Politics and Fubara’s Return to the Government House
11. The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide is reiterating our call on His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President Federal Republic of Nigeria, to reconsider and review the suspension of the Rivers State Governor with a view to lifting the suspension before the six months for Fubara to return back to the Government House.
12. We particularly commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the Nigeria Maritime University, (NMU) Okerenkoko Bill into law, the signing and establishment of the South South Development Commission, renewal of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited pipeline surveillance contract and the appointment of worthy Ijaw sons and daughters into his Government.
A Message to Niger Delta Governors
13. The council is calling on the Ondo, Edo, Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers State Governors to prioritize the development of the Ijaw areas in their states, and our people be treated fairly and be given what is due them.
Appreciation
14. The 9th National Executive Council of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide is appreciating the support from Ijaw leaders in making Council more formidable, we deeply appreciate founding fathers of council, founding organisations of council such as Meinbutu, Supreme Egbesu Assembly, Federated Youths of Bayelsa, Arogbo Freedom Fighters, Izon-Ebi Dou-Ogbo, Mosiend, Elumetu/Chicoco Movement, Egene Youth Movement and others that participated in the formation of the IYC via the Kaiama Declaration on December 11th 1998.
Conclusion
15. Finally, the IYC is committed and will never be distracted in advocating for a better deal for the Ijaw people. We are stronger together in love and unity. Special thanks to the Zonal and Chapter leadership of Council, the Parliament, our wonderful clan chairmen of council as well as all sons and daughters of council. The assurance is that better days are here for us as a people.
Signed
Amb. (DR) Binebai Yerin Princewill
Spokesman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide.
By Favour Bibaikefie
Tomorrow, Friday, May 16, 2025, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone — covering Delta, Edo, and Ondo states led by Comrade Nicholas Igarama — will solemnly mark the 57th anniversary of Boro Day at Chief Tunde Smooth Playground, NPA Warri, Delta State. The event will feature a dynamic procession through the streets of Warri, followed by an insightful symposium aimed at celebrating and reflecting on the enduring legacy of Ijaw fallen hero, Major Isaac Adaka Boro.
Major Isaac Adaka Boro remains one of the most iconic figures in the history of the Niger Delta and the Ijaw nation. Born in 1938 in the Niger Delta region, Major Boro was a Nigerian nationalist, soldier, and activist who passionately championed the rights of his people long before Biafra Republic causes.
In February 1966, Major Boro declared the Niger Delta Republic — a bold and unprecedented move — in an effort to free the Niger Delta region from the exploitation and marginalization of the Niger Delta region by the Nigerian federal government in collution with multinational oil companies. Though short-lived, this declaration sparked a significant movement for self-determination, environmental justice, and economic fairness in the oil-rich region.
Boro’s armed struggle, sacrifices, and calls for equity continue to inspire generations of Ijaws and Niger Delta activists fighting for justice, resource control, and political representation.
Major Boro, who died in combat on March 9, 1968, remains a revered Niger Delta nationalist and freedom fighter.
The 2025 Boro Day Commemoration
This year’s Boro Day celebration in Warri will bring together Ijaw youths, community leaders, cultural groups, and sympathizers from across Delta, Edo, and Ondo states to honor Major Boro’s memory. The procession will wind through key parts of Warri, symbolizing unity and resilience among the Ijaw people.
Following the procession, a symposium will convene at Chief Tunde Smooth Playground, where distinguished speakers and historians will share insights on Major Boro’s impact and the ongoing struggle for the Niger Delta’s development and recognition.
While the Warri event is the focal point for the Western Zone, Ijaws worldwide will also hold events commemorating Major Boro’s sacrifice and vision, demonstrating the far-reaching influence of his legacy.