The controversy being generated by the amendment of the constitution of the Bonny Youths Federation (BYF) seems not to be abating soon especially with the inclusion of the provisions seeking to subsume every other youth body under the body under its new name, Bonny Youth Assembly, still on course.

 

Sections 79, 80, and 81 expressly provides for the subjugation of the Bonny Graduates Forum (BGF), National Union of Bonny Students (NUBS), the Ijaw Youth Council, among others as subservient affiliates of the Bonny Youth Assembly.

 

The uproar that greeted the amendment process has now been heightened by the condemnation and outright rejection of the BYA constitution by the National Union of Bonny Students (NUBS).

This was following on the heels of an earlier rejection by the Bonny Graduates Forum (BGF), which members including a former Minister of Housing, Amal Pepple and Commissioner for Finance, Israel Williams, described as an effort in futility, advising the Leader of BYF, Simeon Wilcox, and his cohorts to jettison the idea.

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In a letter addressed to the BYF Leader, Simeon Wilcox, signed by its National President, Abraham Andrew Wilcox, and National General Secretary, Goodness Jumbo, NUBS described the amendment process and the purported provision as “a slap, utter disregard and disrespect” to it as the umbrella body of all Bonny students.

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Excerpts of the letter made available to Kristina Reports reads as follows:

 

“Our attention has been drawn to the recent constitution amendment of the Bonny Youth Federation (BYF) and the National Union of Bonny Students (NUBS) as an affiliate body and the subjection of her constitution to that of Bonny Youth Assembly as proposed.

 

The union states as follows:

The union considers this a slap, utter disregard and disrespect to its entirety for not being consulted/notified before the proposed affiliation by the leadership of Bonny Youth Federation.

 

That we vehemently condemn and disapprove of the affiliation and subjection of her constitution to that of Bonny Youth Assembly as proposed.

 

That the National Union of Bonny Students (NUBS) is an umbrella body of Bonny students with aim of uniting, promoting educational awareness and interest of all Bonny students. To this end has no age limit as directly opposed to the proposed constitutional provision of the Bonny Youth Assembly.

 

The union demands that the proposed constitutional provision affiliating her and subjecting her to the constitution of the Bonny Youth Assembly as enshrined in section 79, subsection 1, 2 and 3 of her constitution be expunged with immediate alacrity as to avoid any other form of resistance as the supremacy of the National Union of Bonny Students remains sacrosanct and nonnegotiable.”

 

Efforts to reach Wilcox for his reaction to the NUBS letter remained abortive as at the time of this report.

 

Concerned stakeholders have continued to appeal to the BYF leadership to dump the idea of attempting to force other groups under its wings albeit without recourse to the affected groups for consultations. The position of the BYF leadership as to whether to back down on the process or forge ahead was yet unconfirmed as at the time of this report.