INC: Tonye Hit Ground Running With Empowerment Project

The newly inaugurated Chairman of Ijaw National Congress INC, Lagos Chapter, Comrade Tonye Harry Leonard has said that the new executive under his leadership would pursue the acquisition of a befitting secretariat for the body within his three years term in office.

Harry, who spoke with journalists on the sideline, during the inauguration of the new executive members on Saturday, maintained that the secretariat is very important even as he also promised that the Lagos chapel would work towards empowering its members

He said “That is the foremost thing that we are going to do because without having a place, it will be difficult for us to harness what we need to do.

“As it is now, we have ready out a mercenary in place to acquire a secretariat.
.
“The Ijaws are spread all over the place like Ondo, Edo, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states and by the time we look inwards, definitely, we will get a place and it is going to be soonest.

Earlier in his inaugural speech, Comrade Harry who doubles as a Deputy President General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) expressed readiness to deliver in his new office.

He called on other members of the union to lend their hands of support for the group to achieve its objectives

Harry who said he wanted a united front in the Congress , called on aggrieved members to mend fences saying that unity would propel the INC to an enviable height

His words, “I have prepared myself for service and dedicated myself for the three years that we are going to be on board including my wife and children who are also prepared to serve Ijaw nation

“I enjoin others to be prepared as me and my family are prepared.

“We are now mirrors that people will be watching us. We must live up to the expectation of our people in order to realise their hopes.

“Let us remember that our unity is our strength and let us easily accommodate each other and let go of our past grievances that will create division and defeat our collective ambition.

“I invite you all to collective commitment to fairness and justice, progress and development.

Earlier, in his remarks, National Treasurer of INC, Chief Philip Agu, enjoined the new executives to see themselves as servants saying Lagos Chapter is very important to the global body of the Council.

Lamenting in the present economic state of the country, he said that Nigeria ought not to suffer same rate as other Nigerians before the resources sustaining the country comes from their soil.

“INC for which we are to inaugurate the new executive of the Lagos Chapter is the umbrella body of all Ijaws within and outside Nigeria

“All the executive committee members should note that they have come to serve Ijaw nation in this all important Lagos State in Nigeria

“For the executive coming in, you should serve as good ambassadors Ijaws either from the East, West or central. Your duty is more or less a national assignment.

“You have a serious task in your hands that’s why I said that we are not here for tea party knowing the level of job you have at hand.

“Nigeria as at today, is changing in terms of the economy, the average citizen of their country cannot have one square meal daily.

“We are peculiar people because the oil and gas sustaining the country is coming from our soil

“The Ijaws are supposed to be the richest and that is what you have in your hands to do in Lagos Chapter and giving advice to the national executive Council to move the Council within d outside Nigeria..

“The Lagos Chapter is not like other chapter, it is a laudable chapter

“The outgoing executive committee have done theirs and the chairman leaving the office today is coming back as ex officio

“Please, support them with your wealth of experience.

The immediate outgoing chairman, Ebitimi. Posibi Duo charged the new excos on achieving the feat of acquiring a secretariat for the Ijaw Council.

He called in the nation body to treat the Lagos branch with utmost consideration saying there are many projects that the chapter has in the pipeline

He admonished aggrieved members to bury the hatchet and work with the next executives for seamless growth and development of the union

“We are making history today and I am humbled that we have been able to midwife the process that led to the inauguration of today.

“Today, the Eastern zone is taking the leadership mantle today and the next is going to be the central zone.

“Those of us who lost I lection should know that it is a brotherly affair. No winner, no loser.

“If.you lost election, please make your experience available to the new executive.

“We want the national should consider that Lagos is peculiar and should be considered because of the tight projects that we have to do.

“We need a secretariat in Lagos because Inc cannot be without Lagos Chapter. Going forward, we believe that you will collaborate with us and make this happen.

“Unity is very important. You must carry along every member of your team and be able to manage everyone of them,” he submitted.