Comrade Bani is authentic Rivers State chairman – NYCN President

By Tunde Opalana

President of the National Council of Nigerian Youths (NYCN), Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo has affirmed that Comrade Nwisabari Bani is the authentic chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the NYCN.

His affirmation was in reaction to claim by one Mr Victor Dennis Ekaro on behalf of Rivers State Government on the 20th day of May 2021.

While dismissing the statement credited to Ekaro as “ridiculous, misleading, baseless, utterly irresponsible, a pure display of ignorant and gravely senseless”, he said it is most regrettably that such malicious lies was coming from someone who claims to represent the Rivers state governor on security matters.

The NYCN President urged the public to discountenance the claims as nothing but a continuation of the deliberate attempt to course disaffection and division among Rivers State youths for cheap political gains.

Sokubo in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday said “NYCN under the leadership of its President, Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo wishes to state unequivocally that in line with National Youth Policy 2019 as amended and the NYCN constitution 2018 as amended the apex youth body in Nigeria, NYCN is an independent body and not a property of the federal government, state government and any politicians.

“It is however surprising that an acclaimed appointee of a state government will on behalf of the state, claim ownership, promote and even appoint old men, political thugs as leaders of NYCN in Rivers State. This is a total display of ignorant and total disregard for laws that set up the NYCN as the apex youth body in Nigeria.

“For the avoidance of doubt, NYCN state that Comrade Nwisabari Bani in accordance with its constitution 2018 as amended was duly elected as the substantive Chairman of Rivers State Chapter on 21st of March 2021 and was later elected Public Relations Officer of the NYCN 36 States Chairmen Forum.

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“The Rivers State Chapter election, where Comrade Bani and others were elected, was observed by officials of the Federal Ministry of Youths, Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students Matters, Nigeria Police, Department of State Security (DSS), NYCN State Chairmen and Officials from the NYCN headquarters. Consequently, the results were signed by all these observers.

“On this note, Comrade Bani remains the only recognised elected Chairman of NYCN, Rivers State Chapter. Rivers Youths, South-South Youths, NYCN Headquarters and Nigeria youths know this”.

The Council therefore cautioned the Rivers State government to call his appointee to order, not to meddle in the leadership of the NYCN Rivers state chapter and not to distabilise the relative peace that the Governor, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike is working tirelessly to sustain in the state.

The President as well urged the youth-friendly Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike to give NYCN State Chapter under the leadership of Comrade Bani all necessary support.

“This is important for meaningful youth participation, engagement and empowerment for impactful development in the state”, he said.