Re-Abuse of Leadership Privilege: IYC Deputy, President Clash Over Pipeline Contract, ‘Otuaro Must Go’ Campaign
By Tessy Ogbemi
A deepening leadership rift has emerged within the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide as Deputy President, Chief Akiefa Frank, openly disagreed with the council’s president, Dr. Alaye Tari Theophilus, over calls to decentralise a major pipeline surveillance contract being handled by Tantita Security Nigeria Limited and demands for the removal of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Administrator, Dennis Otuaro.
In a strongly worded statement personally signed and made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday, Akiefa described the campaign tagged “Abuse of Leadership Privilege: Dennis Otuaro Must Go” as misleading and unrepresentative of the council’s collective position.
He criticised the push by Dr. Alaye Tari Theophilus faction of the IYC leadership to break up the pipeline surveillance contract currently handled by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited widely associated with ex-militant leader Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) calling the move “strange, misguided, and unacceptable.”
According to Akiefa, the position advanced by the faction led by Dr. Theophilus reflects personal interests rather than the broader mandate of the IYC.
“The IYC exists to protect the collective interest of the Ijaw people, not to advance personal or pecuniary gains,” he said, stressing that the council must remain unified and focused on its core objectives.
The deputy president also distanced himself from allegations raised by Theophilus regarding an attempted disruption of a peaceful protest at the National Assembly complex, as well as claims of a foiled plot to kidnap the IYC president.
“I am the Deputy President of the IYC and was not informed of these actions. They were carried out without consultation with the larger body,” Akiefa stated, accusing the president of acting unilaterally.
He further described the agitation for decentralisation of the surveillance contract as a calculated attempt to undermine the fight against crude oil theft and discredit the leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme under Dennis Otuaro.
However, the faction is loyal to Dr. Theophilus has maintained its stance, alleging that attempts were made to bribe its leadership to abandon calls for decentralisation of the pipeline surveillance contract by Tantita security. The group also accused Dennis Otuaro of working with security operatives to disrupt a protest at the National Assembly.
According to the faction, the protest ended peacefully before a team of police officers allegedly linked to the Amnesty Office arrived at the scene in a programme vehicle. The officers, reportedly led by a figure identified as General Preye Ekpebedi, allegedly attempted to detain protest leaders but were resisted by the IYC president’s security team.
The group claims to possess video evidence of the incident, insisting that the actions were aimed at suppressing dissent.
As tensions continue to rise within their IYC, the president, Dr. Alaye Tari Theophilus and his deputy Chief Comrade Frank akiefa, both sides holds firmly to opposing narratives.
