Biafra: IYC Suspends Asari Dokubo

The Eastern Zonal Chapter of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, on Sunday suspended its founder and former militant leader, Alhaji Asari Dokubo.

The suspension followed Dokubo’s declaration of “Biafra de facto Customary Government.”

Dokubo had in a statement he released through Uche Mefor to journalists in Warri on the declaration of a “ Biafra de facto customary government ” said the time has come for them to take their destinies in their hands, adding that the Igbo people have long suffered injustice and marginalization in Nigeria.

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Apart from declaring himself the leader of the customary government, Dokubo also named Uche Mefor as the Head of Information and Communication of the customary government, George Onyibe as Secretary of the group, and Emeka Esiri as the officer in charge of its legal matters.

But on Sunday, Chairman of IYC Okrika Clan, Festus Dango moved the motion for the suspension of Dokubo at the zonal elective congress of the IYC.

Dango said Dokubo failed to consult before announcing his Biafra contraption, adding that the former militant leader has been trying to lure other IYC members to join his Biafra adventure.

Dango said Biafra is a “non-existent sovereign state within Ijaw territories.”

Also suspended were IYC members who joined Dokubo in the putative Biafra government.

The IYC may still give Dokubo a greater punishment based on the report of a six-man disciplinary committee also set up at the meeting.

The committee is headed by Comrade Ransom Opuiyo.

Recall that the IYC was founded by Dokubo in 1998 as a human rights movement to fight for Ijaw interests.

From 2001 to 2004, Dokubo headed the group.

He left to set up the militant Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force.