Ijaw scholar urges governance overhaul, backs plural leadership
A US-based Ijaw scholar has called for a strategic rethink of governance structures across the Ijaw nation, warning that over-reliance on a single institutional authority could undermine accountability and long-term development.
In a candid reflection on recent developments, Prof. Mondy Selle Gold urged the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to embrace what he described as “institutional plurality”, the coexistence of multiple credible organisations to strengthen governance, representation and transparency within the Ijaw socio-political space.
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Nathan Tamarapreye
A US-based Ijaw scholar has called for a strategic rethink of governance structures across the Ijaw nation, warning that over-reliance on a single institutional authority could undermine accountability and long-term development.
In a candid reflection on recent developments, Prof. Mondy Selle Gold urged the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to embrace what he described as “institutional plurality”, the coexistence of multiple credible organisations to strengthen governance, representation and transparency within the Ijaw socio-political space.
His intervention comes against the backdrop of a dispute between the Prof. Benjamin Okaba-led executive of the INC and the Council of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE), an INC organ. Both sides have expressed divergent views and have been at odds over elections to the leadership of the Congress.
According to Gold, there is a clear functional distinction between the INC and CITRE: while both institutions serve complementary purposes, their roles are fundamentally different. He explained that the INC operates within a civic and representative framework, whereas CITRE derives its authority from tradition and ancestral heritage.
The scholar cautioned against merging or over-centralising these institutions, arguing that such a move could weaken the diversity of governance mechanisms required for a resilient society.
“It is dangerous to entrust the entirety of a people’s autonomy to a single organisational structure,” he said.
He further warned that a lack of institutional competition could lead to complacency, financial opacity and reduced accountability.
Drawing parallels with global advocacy systems, Gold cited organisations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Urban League and Colour of Change as examples of how multiple bodies can coexist to strengthen advocacy and oversight rather than create division.
He also referenced Jewish advocacy groups, including the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee, noting that their parallel operations help preserve credibility while preventing the monopolisation of influence.
Gold warned that the absence of similar plural institutional frameworks within the Ijaw nation represents a “strategic vulnerability” that could erode public trust over time.
He stressed that his position was not a critique of the legitimacy of existing institutions but a call for continuous renewal through constructive competition and complementary structures.
“Healthy competition is not antagonism; it is a civilising force that elevates standards and restrains excess,” he added.
The scholar urged Ijaw leaders to deliberately cultivate a governance system that is self-correcting, resilient and accountable, noting that the future of the Ijaw nation depends not only on cultural solidarity but also on robust institutional design.
Prof. Gold, author of Major Isaac Adaka Boro: The Unfinished Project, described his intervention as a contribution to ongoing discussions on strengthening the Ijaw national project.
