Alabo Nengi James Unveils Transformative Vision For INC Presidency Ahead Of Polls
Incumbent Second Vice President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Alabo Nengi James, has articulated a bold and forward-looking vision to reposition the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Ijaw nation as campaigns intensify ahead of the national elections scheduled for March 7, 2026.
In an exclusive interview on the live radio programme Viewpoint on Rhythm 94.7 FM, Nengi James drew on his extensive track record—spanning over three decades in civil society activism and his foundational role in the formation of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC)—to outline key priorities: collective leadership, transparency, accountability, and innovative advocacy at both national and global levels.
He pledged to honour the enduring legacies of Ijaw icons such as Chief Joshua Fumudoh and the late Pa E.K. Clark by strengthening unity and security across Ijaw territories while relentlessly pursuing resource control and true federalism.
“Resource control remains non-negotiable,” he declared emphatically. “It was the very bedrock upon which the IYC was founded. The continued agitation for true fiscal federalism and the restructuring of the Nigerian state is equally non-negotiable. I come with a clear, actionable roadmap. However, success demands broad collaboration: engaging intellectuals, establishing a robust advisory board that includes our vibrant diaspora in Europe and America, and forging strategic partnerships with stakeholders at home and abroad.”
Rejecting the “me, myself, and I” mentality, Alabo James championed collective decision-making, where ideas are rigorously debated, refined, or set aside when necessary for the greater benefit of the Ijaw people. He advocated for refreshed advocacy strategies that incorporate stronger psychological and spiritual dimensions, while maintaining strategic confidentiality on select tactics for maximum effectiveness.
At the heart of his platform is uncompromising financial transparency and accountability within the INC. He demanded regular, detailed financial reporting from the national secretariat down to the grassroots chapters.
“The people deserve to know every kobo collected and every kobo spent. If funds are low, our people will willingly contribute,” he stated, firmly rejecting any notion of leadership as a pathway to personal enrichment.
He committed to issuing formal donor appreciation letters, publicly acknowledging all contributions, and thereby building greater trust to attract sustained support.
“Accountability and transparency—you will get tired of hearing it!” he declared passionately. “Why conceal the money? It is not yours—it is ours! The people have a right to know.” He promised to exceed constitutional requirements and embrace full public scrutiny of the organisation’s finances.
Addressing the persistent marginalisation of the Ijaw people, Alabo James highlighted glaring disparities in federal appointments, promotions, scholarships (including those from the Niger Delta Development Commission’s Education Trust Fund), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) schemes, other federal scholarship programmes, federal employment opportunities, and access to jobs in the oil and gas industry. He called for rigorous data collection, comprehensive documentation, evidence-based research, sustained lobbying, strategic partnerships, and relentless negotiations with federal institutions.
“We must diligently track and monitor records across all government agencies and parastatals. Our critique is not directed at Governor Diri or any single state leader—our focus remains the overall advancement of the entire Ijaw nation at the national level,” he clarified, noting that his national honour as Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) positions him to exert meaningful influence on policy.
Alabo James further stressed the urgent need to tackle the severe environmental and ecological challenges confronting the Niger Delta, particularly the devastating long-term impacts of oil spills. He called for the total clean-up of all oil-spill-impacted areas across the region, emphatically declaring that “Niger Delta clean-up is now.” He pledged to prioritise sustained advocacy, strategic partnerships, and unrelenting pressure on government agencies and oil companies to ensure comprehensive remediation, environmental restoration, and the rehabilitation of affected communities and livelihoods.
To protect the INC from political patronage and capture, Alabo James pointed to his own unblemished record: no political office ever held, no core principles compromised, and a lifestyle of modest contentment.
“A true Ijaw leader must be content with what he has. Materialism only leads to begging for contracts,” he cautioned, recalling instances where uncompromising advocacy provoked complaints from oil companies.
He vowed to apply principled, evidence-based pressure on the federal government and the National Assembly—through facts, sustained advocacy, and concrete action—rather than mere rhetoric, in the proud tradition of the late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha.
His manifesto also includes forging partnerships with professional bodies and the media (including creative engagement of comedians for wider reach), promoting the teaching and preservation of the Ijaw language through family and community education, and fully embracing Ijaw identity in attire, cuisine, conduct, and everyday lifestyle.
He fondly recalled advising his late mentor, Kingsley Okoko, to dress authentically as an Ijaw man—a counsel that was gladly embraced.
With campaigns officially underway since January 12, 2026, nomination forms returnable by February 10, and candidate screening scheduled for February 19–21, Nengi James stands out as a principled, integrity-driven contender deeply committed to equity, justice (starting at home), and unwavering dedication to the Ijaw cause.
Alabo Nengi James’ campaign is a powerful rallying cry for a revitalised, transparent, united, and purposeful INC—one that will fiercely safeguard and advance the collective destiny of the Ijaw nation in Nigeria’s evolving socio-political landscape.
