It was a moment of pride and reflection for the Ijaw Nation on Friday as key political leaders, eminent scholars and community stakeholders gathered at the MBB Events Centre, Effurun, Delta State, for the public presentation of two new publications inspired by Comrade Princewill Binebai, Spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide.
The event drew notable personalities including Hon. Julius Pondi, Member of the House of Representatives representing Burutu Federal Constituency, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, members of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), academics, traditional rulers, student bodies and members of the Niger Delta intellectual community.
The books titled Kaiama Declaration and Rising Tide: The Ijaw Youth Council and the Struggle for Self-Determination, were widely described as timely historical interventions and strategic documentation of the Ijaw liberation movement.
Guests at the event hailed the works as “intellectual tools of national rebirth” and a relevant compass for present and future generations.
Speaking as Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Pondi Julius Gbabojor, commended the effort behind the publications, noting that the works arrive at a critical moment when Ijaw youths must rediscover their ideological grounding.
“These books are not just academic submissions, they are guiding lights and historical reminders of who we are and what the struggle stands for,” he stated.
He applauded the authors and collaborators for preserving the memory of those who laid the foundation for the struggle for self-determination, especially in the post-Kaiama Declaration era.
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In his address, the initiator and IYC Spokesman, Comrade Amb. Princewill Binebai, described the books as significant milestones in chronicling the Ijaw liberation movement. He stressed the need for digital and scholarly documentation of the IYC’s formation, struggles and achievements, particularly the Twelve-Day Revolution led by Major Isaac Adaka Boro.
“These are intellectual assets for future generations, researchers and policymakers,” he said, urging every Ijaw youth to obtain copies.
Providing further context, Professor Benedict Binebai, the primary author of Kaiama Declaration, stated that the drama-text captures the ideological framework and historical realities that birthed the IYC. He emphasized that Ijaw history must be protected to strengthen democratic identity within the Nigerian state.
“We are not passengers of history; we are makers of it,” he added.
Similarly, the second publication, Rising Tide, credited to a team of scholars, was described as one of the most authoritative bodies of knowledge on the Niger Delta struggle.
Reviewing the works, Professor O. M. Kwokwo examined the historical trajectory of the Ijaw struggle, including Adaka Boro’s separatist campaign, and assessed how these events shaped current demands for self-determination. He commended the depth of research and stressed that the works are essential reading for every Ijaw youth.
“The books are bold, compelling and central to reshaping the consciousness of the Ijaw nation,” he said.
The ceremony concluded with a collective call for unity, ideological revival and intellectual continuity in the Ijaw struggle.
