By SHEDRACK FRANK

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has called on the Federal Government (FG) to honour the late Major Isaac Adaka Boro as a true nationalist.

The call was made In a statement signed and issued in Yenagoa on Thursday by the council’s spokesman, Amb. Princewill Binebai.

According to IYC, Boro, who died for the indivisibility of Nigeria in 1968 during the civil war, means so much to the Niger Delta region and Nigeria in general.

“Considering the sacrifices of Boro, who paid the supreme price by dying to protect Nigeria as one indivisible sovereign nation, it’s the call of IYC Worldwide that the FG name critical facilities like international airports, federal institutions of learning and what have you after Boro.

“This is very important as we also recommend proper recognition of the Boro family, his children and brother by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“However, while the Bayelsa State Government, over the years has continued to be a major financier of the Boro Day celebration, we are urging the Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ondo, Imo and other Niger Delta governors to do the same by massively supporting any move geared towards celebrating Boro.

“Today is the 56^thBoro Day celebration with the theme, ‘Honouring the Sacrifices of the Past; Embracing the Challenges of the Moment and Believing in the Future,” said IYC.

The council said Boro’s declaration of the Niger Delta Republic in 1966, popularly known as the 12-Day Revolution, made him a champion of the minority rights movement in Nigeria.

According to IYC, Boro opened the eyes of minorities in Nigeria over the downright neglect of smaller tribes within Nigeria and the need to be treated fairly as equal stakeholders in the Nigerian union.

The council, therefore, called on all Niger Delta governors to immortalise him in their various states. (NAN)