The President of Itsekiri National Youths Council, Comrade Weyinmi Agbateyiniro has stated that the responsibility of the Council under his leadership is to ensure the safety, welfare and protection of every Itsekiri sons and daughters.
The Youths leader stated this at the 20th anniversary and National Convention of the National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, which took place at Brownhill Events Center, Warri recently.
Agbateyiniro called on youths of Itsekiri extraction to be ready, committed and determined to right the wrongs of the past with a view of championing the path of glory for Warri Kingdom.
The youth leader submitted that the future of Warri Kingdom is bright like the shining star but lies in the hands of the youths to take quick and decisive actions that will be of utmost benefits to the people, adding that the youths must be ready and prepared to work tirelessly towards building a better future not just for this generation but generations yet unborn. “We must remain focused on transforming, encouraging the socio-economic and infrastructural development of our communities while creating jobs and wealth for the benefits of our people,” he further stated.
On the Deghele Declaration, Comrade Agbateyiniro stated that the declaration is a capsulation of the injustices done against the Itsekiri nation. While reminding the people and Government, Agbateyiniro pointed out that when the amalgamation that gave birth to this geographical entity called Nigeria was conceptualized, the Itsekiris, represented by Chief Dore-Numa was among the few ethnic nationalities that signed the instrument that gave rise to the amalgamation.
“Needless to mention that as a result of this amalgamation, we as an ethnic nation lost our sovereignty to the Nigerian nation. The primary responsibility of the Government is the protection of lives and properties while ensuring and enforcing the rule of law. Regrettably, the Government has failed in its duties. Despite being the second largest producers of oil and gas, also the highest producers of same in Delta State, the huge contributions of the Itsekiri nation to the Nigerian socio-economic development, Warri Kingdom has nothing to show for her contributions to the Nigeria project and has since been neglected by the State and Federal Government and even interventionist agencies of Government.”
“It is unacceptable for the sons and daughters of Itsekiri ethnic nationality not to be gainfully employed in the presence of abundance. The Federal Government cannot continue to develop Abuja and other cities with the resources gotten from our land while our people remain in poverty and under development,” the youth leader added.
