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Boro Day : Diri, Ijaw leaders celebrate Late Boro, lay wreath
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, leadership of Ijaw National Congress, INC, the apex Youth Group, Ijaw Youth Congress, IYC, and other stakeholders, on Thursday, celebrated the 56th remembrance day of the late Major jasper Adaka Boro.
Hundreds of different Youths groups had in the early hours of the day held processions from Yenagoa the capital city to kaiama town, community of the late hero.
Addressing the people during the ceremony, Senator Diri, extol the qualities of the late Adaka Boro and other heros who fought for the freedom of the region.
Diri, who was represented by the Secretary to the state government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, said “We here to honour the indomitable spirit and the sacrifices made by our hero, and safe guarding the essence and the heritage of the nation”
The act of laying wreath symbolizes our deepest respect and gratitude towards the selfless individuals who have dedicated their lives so that the Ijaw people can stand tall amongst the ethnic groups that constitute Nigeria.
The Heros memorial park stands as a testament to their courage and gallantry.
A monument that shall forever remind us of their extra ordinary contributions to our collective history. The establishment of the Hero parks is a deliberate and significant efforts initiated by my predecessor Senator Seriake Dickson, which serves as a symbolic link between the past, present and the future generations, in ensuring that the sacrifices of our Heros can never be forgotten, and their stories continue to resonate with us today.
However, it shouldn’t be an annual rituals but rather a profound renewal of fidelity and commitment to the state and Ijaw nation.
Let us remember the important roles we have to play in shaping the future. Let us leave this place with a renew sense of purpose and determination to be the change we need to see in the state.
In his brief, the President of INC, Prof. Benjamin Okoba, who earlier spoke, said even though the hero is no more alive, his leadership sterling qualities, disciplines, courage, fearless nature of the leader is still much available amongst the Ijaws.
He said the death of Boro was not just a mere death but as a result of fighting for the emancipation of Ijaw nation and Niger Delta by extension.
According to Okaba, rather than the usual rhetorics of celebrating Boro’s day, the INC under his leadership has decided to work the talk under the mantra of taking the struggle beyond rhetoric.
The INC boss, noted that as part of the INC agenda and program of uniting Ijaw people together so as to speak on one common voice, the organization launched an Ijaw nation app to bridge communication gaps among the Ijaws for purposes of fostering unity.
Also speaking at the sideline was the president of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri, also described Boro as a thorough Ijaw man of many parts who fourth for peace, unity, justice and economic freedom of the Ijaw man.
While explaining why Boro took arms against Nigeria, the youth president said it was as a result of oppressive tendency against the people of Niger Delta.
He however said ” we are no longer where we use to be were people complains, trample upon us like before. Today the Ijaw man is free socially but we need to be free economically, this is the reason why our struggle continues until our environment and economic space is open for our people “.
