IJAW UNITY NOW

The oppressor never feels or knows oppression, only the oppressed feels or knows it. It is also only the oppressed that can put a stop to oppression; also only a determined, committed united and virile group with all sincerity and sense of purpose that can functionally face the toughness involved in fighting oppression.

Therefore the Ijaws of this world who are being oppressed must today first clamour for commitment and unity coupled with sincerity and genuine sense of purpose for us to put a stop to our oppression.

The Ijaws must know that the Ijaw question is a national issue. So there is need for us (Ijaws) to come together and work consciously for the Ijaw nation to move forward. As the fourth largest ethnic group with a population of about 15 million, and the producers of approximately 90% of Nigeria’s wealth, Nigeria still does not perceive us as an important force in the Nation. Regrettably including the Ijaws themselves do not perceive themselves with due importance. Thus Ijaws are the dejure senior partners in the socio-political arrangement called Nigeria. Paradoxically, the Ijaws and the Ijaw territories are the most under-developed, marginalized, abused and degraded segment of Nigeria. This blatant injustice has been tolerated by the Ijaws for various reasons.

The Ijaws who are one of the fourth largest ethnic group after the Hausa Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo ethnic groups, who spread from Akwa-Ibom state on the East to Ondo State on the Western fringe are deliberately fragmented across six states of the Nigerian federation for obvious reasons by the oppressors.

Added to this is the geographical nature of the Ijaw territories which is Deltaic, subsequently this atomizes the lands into countless islands though contigual, giving credence to the organized conspiracy of the Nigerian state against the Ijaw people.

Also, the difference in dialect imposes a clannish outlook on the Ijaws. So most Ijaws or Izons do not recognize each other as such, rather they believe in clannish distinctions such as Kolokuma, Apoi, Okrika, Egbema, Ogbia, Kalabari, Kumbo, Kabu, Arogbo, Andoni, Mein, Atissa, Epie, Biseni, Obolo, Nembe, Kou, Olodiama, Furupagha, Operemor, Tuomo, Tungbo, Seimbiri, Ngbelebiri, Igbani (Bonny) Gbaramatu, Gbaran, Oporomor etc.

Hence the Okrikaman (Wakrikase man) sees the Kolokuma man differently just as he sees the Yoruba man at the centre. This has resulted in the Ijaws not being able to unite to fight on a common front as each clan rather than coming together as Ijaws, seek allies from the three so called major ethnic groups to solve their problems. Hence the Ijaws are where they are today.

Again arising from the clannish or insular outlooking is what one regards as the suicidal angle. The Kalabari Ijaws in Rivers state sees themselves completely different from the Kumbo Ijaws (Izons) of Bayelsa states or Kabu Ijaws of Delta state or Olodiama Ijoh of Edo state or the Arogbo Ijo of Ondo state or Andoni Ijaw of Akwa - Ibom State.

Most surprisingly, the Ijaws of Kalabari, Nembe, Ogbia, Okrika, Igbani, Andoni and Apoi have in most cases seriously queried their own “Ijawness”. They claim the Ijaws (Izons) do not regard them as real Ijaws (Izons). But one must ask, who can be more Ijaw than the Okrika, Kalabari, Nembe, Andoni, Igbani, Epie, Kou, Tungbo or Engenni ?

Therefore one can deduce from the facts provided herein, that, the differentiation of one Ijaw plight to the other Ijaw either in Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Edo, or Ondo states is nothing but suicidal.

Honestly, the Izons of Central Ijaw, Izons of Western Ijaw and Ijaws of Eastern Ijaw are no more Ijaw that the other. Same goes for the pockets of dialectical differences prevalent in the Ijaw language. Critically viewed Izon, Ijo, Ijoh or Ijaw all refers to one distinct and unique ethnic group, the Ijaw nation.

The Ijaws are supposed to be a formidable group in the project called the Nigerian state. Without any fear of contradiction today we Ijaws are proud to say we have a state Governor, which is going to be regular in the present dispensation. Also for now, we have on record two Deputy Governors - one in Bayelsa and the other one in Rivers states - who are Ijaws. The Ijaws have in this dispensation five senators amongst the supposedly 109 Senators in the Upper House of the National Assembly.

It is also on record for now that we have two Speakers in the two State Houses of Assembly, Bayelsa and Delta States. The Ijaws also have two full time Federal Ministers in the Federal Executive council of about 50 members. They are Professor T.T. Isoun and Ms. Boma Jack. We have twelve persons representing the Ijaws in the lower House of the National Assembly making up the 360 seats.

Added to these facts are the various states Governments where the Ijaws have Commissioners. There are also Ijaw Permanent Secretaries, Director Generals at both Federal and State government levels. There are also Local Government Councils under Ijaw control such as the Ese Odo Local Government Council in Ondo, the Eastern Obolo and Ebeno Local Government Council of Akwa-Ibom state. The Ijaw local council areas of Patani, Burutu, and Bomadi of Delta State. Then the Ijaw local government councils of Ogu / Obolo, Okrika, Degema, Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Andoni / Opobo, Bonny, Abu/ Odua in Rivers State and of course we know of the conspiracy by the Nigerian nation State in the case of Bayelsa state Local Government Council where we have only eight local government areas in a whole state - Sagbama, Ekeremor, Nembe, Brass, Kolokuma / Opokuma, Ogbia, Yenagoa, and Southern-Ijaw local government councils. Then the unfortunate position of the Ijaws of Edo state who are being denied local government council areas but they have wards they predominantly control hence the best they can get in that situation are councillors at the council level.

The impact of this analysis is for us to ask ourselves, as Ijaws have we been able to harness adequately the available positive circumstances to brighten the Ijaw man’s position in the Nigeria Question. Our response to that is capital NO. And the evidences are there for all men to see.

With all sense of apology, we say the word Ijaw or the people Ijaw do not exist in the Nigerian psyche or consciousness. At least not until the recent Warri crisis when the Ijaws were spurred by the action of the various groups such as the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ijaw Elders Forum, Mebutus, Supreme Egbesu Assembly (SEA), Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), etc., where the Ijaws put in place a credible platform to articulate home the Ijaw position in Warri. Then, most recently of course the proclamation of the Kaiama Declaration by the Ijaw youths which in all sincerity created the much sought awareness in the Ijaw nation.

Though before now, there were concerted and spirited efforts for the Ijaw struggle led by various great Ijaw leaders at various instances. We have to recognize amongst all, great leaders like HRH Pere Harold Dappa Biriye, Late Major Adaka Boro, Late Big Daddy George Weikezi, Late Comrade Tony Oladipo Engurube, Late Dr. Denni-Febiresima, Late Prince (Rev) DME Odondri, Late Chief M. Waritimi, Late Chief Edward Ekiyor, Late General C. B. Ndiomu, Late Chief Jonas Abam, we remember names like HRH Alfred Diete-Spiff, Senator Melford Okilo, Senator Amatere Zoufa, Dr. Gabriel Okara, Hon. Ezeke, Amb. Lawrence Ekpebu, Amb. J.T. Iyalla, Chief Idoniye-Obu, Chief Ebitimi Banigo, Brig.-Gen. C.K. Emein, Chief M.Y. Mamamu, Chief Patrick Keku, Prof. E. Alagoa, Dr. M. T. Akobo, HRM. Dr. Egbe Ifie, Professor Dagogo Fubara, Professor C.A. Dime, Chief E. K Clark, Barrister Pa Eniwari, Chief Hausa Brisibe, Chief Anderson Eseimokumoh, Rear Admiral N. B. Soroh, Chief Bukazi Etete, Chief (Engr.) Pere Ajuwa, Chief Zebulon Abule, Chief Francis Doukpolagha, Chief A.A. Ibiama, Chief G. Oki, Chief Victor Ekiye, and more recently Chief J. B. Fumudoh, Chief Richard Jolowo, Chief Chris Ghomorai, Chief M.Y Mamamu, Mr. Pius Uromi Owu, Mr. Patrick Erasmus, Chief A.K. Horsfall, Rear Admiral F.B.I. Porbeni, Chief P.S. Kentebe, while the women folk include the likes of Chief (Mrs.) Lucy Brisibe, Chief Theresa Oke-Nee Denisah, Dr. Bolere Ketebu-Nwokeafor, Dr. (Mrs.) Grace Koroye, Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, Dr. (Mrs.) M. Ekiyor and a host of others who have given their utmost (including their lives). Sadly, for the most part, Ijaws have failed to transform their fortunes to better the lot of the Ijaws in generality.

At every instant, the Ijaws tried hard to make their point beyond every reasonable doubt but go to sleep after establishing its fact. Hence we can conveniently say Ijaws under crises can hold their own but we always fail to manage success.

Otherwise, we ask what has happened in Warri South-West Local Government Council Area in Delta State? What about the Ijaws in Warri North LGC, are they benefiting from their position there? Then of course there is the question of the Ese-Odo Local Government in Ondo State. What has become of Bayelsa State that the Ijaws clamoured for? Are we harnessing the possible dividends due to the predominantly Ijaw State created by General Sani Abacha?

It is on this premise that we call for Ijaw unity now. We are a formidable group hence we must stop ourselves from being dogged by indignified pettiness. Let us with sincerity of purpose get rid of prejudice, hatred and selfishness that has closed our minds to the light of truth and denied us affection and peaceful co-existence. Let us all accept our predicament and jointly evolve the spirit to stand and tackle our problems holistically.

The Ijaws are special beings endowed with all resources including manpower but we have failed to appreciate this fact.

So let us today stop and resolve to come together and re-appraise our position in the Nigerian State. We have number in our favour and our resources as an instrument to bid for a better arrangement for the Ijaw nation.

It is now time to take the rightful step to emancipate and assert our position in the Nigerian polity and the Niger Delta in particular where we the Ijaws are in the majority.

All this can only be possible if we all resolve to accept to live together in one spirit of reconciliation with brotherly love. Most of all as Ijaws let us unite and be God fearing.

Please fellow Ijaws let us remember to observe the 5th anniversary of Ijaw Day anywhere we are on Saturday January 4, 2003. Let us praise and give adoration to the Most High. The Ijaw Nation must grow and this we must proclaim. Therefore all hands must be on deck.

Last modified: January 07, 2003