By Warefa Pereke.
Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. – The Ijaw nation, a people deeply intertwined with the waters and lands of the Niger Delta, requires a leader who is not just a politician but a protector of their very existence. High Chief (Dr) Nengi James, OON, is that leader.
His candidacy for the presidency of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) is a powerful statement about the need for environmental justice and a forward-thinking approach to governance. He is a trailblazer, a man whose intellectual foresight and practical advocacy have positioned him as a leading voice on the most critical threat facing the Ijaw people today.
The core of Dr. James’s environmental legacy is his groundbreaking concept of “Oceanification.” This term, which he originated, is a powerful and precise way of describing the relentless encroachment of the ocean on Ijawland and the wider Niger Delta. It is a phenomenon that is causing coastal communities to be swallowed by the sea, displacing families, and destroying a way of life that has existed for generations.
By naming this crisis, Dr. Nengi James did more than just identify a problem; he gave the Ijaw people a tool to articulate their suffering and a focal point for their advocacy.
His commitment to this issue goes beyond mere words. Dr. Nengi James is the author of the book, Oceanification: Environmental, Ecological and Socio-Economic Impact in the Niger Delta, a seminal work that meticulously details the causes and devastating consequences of this environmental threat. This book is a testament to his intellectual rigor and his dedication to providing a solid, factual basis for the Ijaw struggle. It is a document that he has used to engage with government bodies, international organizations, and the wider public, making the case for urgent action.
His work has earned him a place in the Bayelsa State History and Archives Environmental Hall of Fame, a recognition of his profound impact and his status as a key figure in the environmental history of the region.
But High Chief Dr. Se-Alabor Nengi James is not a one-issue candidate. His background as a career administrator, mediator, arbitrator, and public policy specialist demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to lead. He has served as the National Vice President 2 of the INC, giving him a deep, firsthand understanding of the organization’s needs and challenges.
He is also an accomplished philanthropist and entrepreneur, bringing a practical business sense and a compassionate spirit to his leadership.
In High Chief (Dr) Nengi James, the Ijaw nation has a unique opportunity to elect a president who is not only a visionary leader on environmental justice but also a proven administrator and advocate. He is a leader who has not waited for power to make a difference; he has already done so through his groundbreaking work on Oceanification. His presidency would be a powerful message to the world that the Ijaw people are serious about protecting their land, their culture, and their future.
