The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ijaw

  • Missing youths resurface as Ijaw, Itsekiri resolve rift

    The atmosphere of tension that started gathering over Warri metropolis last week, following the disappearance of five Ogbe-Ijoh youths, has been rolled off with the reappearance of the missing persons.

    The people of Ogbe-Ijoh community in Warri South-West council area of Delta state, as well as the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), had in separate statements, issued a seven-day ultimatum to Itsekiri youths to produce their missing brothers, as well as valuables running into millions of naira lost to an ambush laid on a group of Ogbe-Ijoh commissaries in Warri last Monday.

  • ‘No Akwa Ibom land will be ceded to Ijaw Oil Rivers state’

    The people of Akwa Ibom State are not opposed to the creation of Oil Rivers or any other state for Ijaw people, a group, Frontline Akwa Ibom Movement, said yesterday.

    But the group said it would not allow an inch of Akwa Ibom land to be excised.

    It said it would employ every legal means to resist any attempt by any group, such as the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), to “blackmail” Akwa Ibom leaders.

    In a statement by its President, Ibanga Isine, and Secretary Anietie Akpan, the group said proponents of an Oil Rivers state did not consult the people they intend to bring into the new state, but indulged in “blackmail and endless cries of neglect”.

    It said: “We, therefore, warn the IYC and Ijaw third columnists to stop misappropriating the goodwill of the Niger Delta people towards President Goodluck Jonathan and other respected Ijaw leaders.

    “The Niger Delta is made up of homogenous people with deep cultural and ancestral ties and nobody or group should attempt to live in a false fantasy that the region belongs to them.

    “We are prepared to defend the land, resources and people of Akwa Ibom State against annexationist groups and interest, and nobody should test our will.

    “IYC should concern itself with the multi-billion Amnesty Fund it has cornered as an Ijaw patrimony and leave Akwa Ibom and its people alone. Those whose kernels were cracked for them by benevolent spirits should not forget to be humble. A word to the wise is enough.”

  • Ijaw, Akwa Ibom stakeholders disagree on Oil Rivers state

    Youths, under the aegis of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), have condemned some Akwa Ibom State stakeholders for opposing the proposed Oil Rivers state.

    It was gathered that the Akwa Ibom stakeholders wrote to the National Conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, that they were not consulted on the creation of the proposed state.

    The letter was allegedly written by former Governor Obong Attah, Chief Nduese Essien and others.

    Yesterday, Ijaw youths said the National Conference recommended an Oil Rivers state following requests by the Ijaw of Akwa Ibom and Rivers states.

    In a statement by their spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, they said: “Anybody or group opposing the creation of a state for the Ijaw people of Akwa Ibom and Rivers states and the Ijaw people of Delta, Edo and Ondo states is a threat to the existence of Ijaw people and we are ready to protect our existence.

    “Ijaw people, through the Ijaw National Congress (INC), demanded for three homogenous states of Bayelsa, Oil Rivers and Toru-Ebe from the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and the late Gen. Sani Abacha regimes to give the Ijaw a political space. However, only Bayelsa State was created.

    “When the National Assembly called for the submission of memorandum for the creation of states, the Ijaw people of Rivers and Akwa Ibom states submitted a memorandum for the creation of Oil Rivers state, which was signed by all local government legislators, state lawmakers and National Assembly members of Ijaw extraction from both states.

    “The petitioners are not part of the proposed state, so they lack the locus to oppose its creation. We urge the relevant authorities to disregard their protest, as the proposed state deserves to be created on merit.

    “IYC will not sit back and allow Ijaw people to be politically and economically oppressed and suffocated in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Edo and Ondo states.”

  • Ijaw community, firm square up over death of kinsmen

    Ijaw community, firm square up over death of kinsmen

    •As group seeks relocation of gas plant

    THE inhabitants of Gelegele, in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo, a riverine oil and gas community,  are at daggers drawn with Dubril Oil, an oil firm operating in the neighbourhood, following alleged death of five community members as a result of gas emission by the company.

    According to the community, gas emission from Dubril Oil claimed the lives of five of its kinsmen just as many others are suffering from one form of ailments caused by environmental hazards they are exposed daily in the community.

    Speaking on behalf of the community, Comrade Joseph Gbale, under the umbrella of Ijaw Youth of Edo State, (IYES), said: “The state and federal government should as a matter of urgent national importance prevail on Dubril Oil to relocate the flaring of gas from the heart of Gelegele community as several lives have been lost. The names of those that died are Mr Ibote Ossia, Mr Aladin Iyefabiri, Mr Anthony Adeyemi, Mr Roland Ofunama and Aboy Donyegha.

    “The federal government should immediately commence work on the Gelegele Seaport as this will bring development and business opportunity to Edo people as well as job creation to our teeming unemployed youths.”

    It would be recalled that in spite of the federal government assurance that gas flaring by multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region will end by 31st December, 2013, the situation still remained unabated in the Edo Oil and Gas Community of Gelegele.

    However, in a swift reaction, an official of the company who did not want his name in print absolved the company of the allegations raised.

    He said: “We don’t have any problem with Gelegele community. I just left the community myself. What they are talking about don’t have anything to do with us.”

  • Five dead in Ijaw community as group seeks relocation of flared gas

    The inhabitants of Gelegele, in Ovia North East local Government Area of Edo State, a riverine oil and gas community have cried out to the federal government to urgently come to their aid by relocating the gas flaring coming from the operation of Dubril Oil from the community, just as they called for the commencement of work on the Gelegele Seaport.

    They claimed that five lives of their kinsmen have been lost and many others suffering different ailment owing to the environmental hazards they are exposed daily in the community.

    It would be recalled that in spite of federal government assurance that gas flaring by multinational-national Oil and Gas Companies operating in the Niger Delta region will end by 31st December, 2013, the situation still persisted in the Edo Oil and Gas Community of Gelegele.

    However, in a swift reaction, an official of the Company who do not want his name in print when contacted on telephone absolved the company of the allegations raised.

    He said “We don’t have any problem with Gelegele community; I just left the community myself. What they are talking about don’t have anything to do with us

    Speaking on behalf of the Community, Comrade Joseph Gbale, at a briefing under the umbrella of Ijaw Youth of Edo State, (IYES), also seek the appointment of an Ijaw person on the board of Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Area Development Commission, (EDSOGPADEC) and lamented that “we have not produce any member since inception of the commission as our community remain the reason why Ovia North East is considered an Oil Producing local government area.

    Gbale stated “the state and federal government should as a matter of urgent national importance prevail on Dubril Oil to relocate the flaring of gas from the heart of Gelegele community as several lives have been lost. These are names of those that died Mr Ibote Ossia, Mr Aladin Iyefabiri, Mr Anthony Adeyemi, Mr Roland Ofunama and Aboy Donyegha.

    “The federal government should immediately commence work on the Gelegele Seaport as this will bring development and business opportunity to Edo people as well as job creation to our teeming unemployed youths.

    They further added “ we want to use this medium to assure Mr President who is our father and the father of the Ijaw Nation of our continuing support and to prevail on him to support the Governor of Edo State and commitment in addressing the Ijaw people problems in the state.

  • Ijaw youths set for 2015 elections

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has started electing zonal officers in the Niger Delta, beginning with the election of officers into the central and western zones.

    The body said it chose to carry out the elections to prepare itself towards a vibrant organisation ahead of the 2015 elections.

  • Rivers Ijaw mothers mobilise for riverine Brick House landlord

    Rivers Ijaw mothers mobilise for riverine Brick House landlord

    THEY  are mothers. They are Ijaw. And from Rivers State. Two days ago,  they gathered at the Atlantic Hall of the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt. The occasion was the Women Convention of the Eastern Delta People’s Association (EDPA). The Women Wing of the EDPA, a non-aligned socio-political group, is led by Mrs Manuela Izunwa. The wing has a strong backer in the wife of former Rivers State Deputy Governor, Sir Gabriel Toby, Dame Christy. She chaired the convention.

    At the meeting, the group’s four-cardinal objectives were stressed. They include: Pursue the protection and preservation of the ideals of equity,   fairness and     justice to enhance the building of an egalitarian society where the Ijaw-speaking people of the Eastern Delta can aspire to any height in Rivers     State; set the agenda for human capacity development of the   women of the Eastern Delta, Rivers State and Nigeria and promote unity, peace and harmony among the people of the Eastern Delta, Rivers State and Nigeria.

    A keynote address by Prof. (Mrs.) Bene Willy Abbey set the tone for the conference. Papers on the theme: “Equity, Equal Opportunity and Political Leadership: Role of Women in Rivers State”  was presented by Mrs. Mina Ogbanga. At the end of it all, the 500 registered women leaders, representing all Rivers Ijaw women spread in ten local government areas adopted a communiqué.

    The key point in the communiqué was a plea to other groups in the state to give the Ijaw the chance to produce the governor of the state after the upland people would have had it for 16 years.

    The politics of Rivers State has been played around a concept referred to as Upland/ Riverine dichotomy.  Before the incumbent, Rotimi Amaechi, who will complete a second term of four years next year, Dr. Peter Odili ruled the state for eight years. Both are from the upland.

    Aspirants from the upland, such as Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike and Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Magnus Abe, have shown interest in the race.

    The women said: “The session reviewed the process of succession in the leadership of Rivers State since the return of democracy in 1999 and as women who have the responsibility to be sensitive to the yearnings of fathers, husbands, brothers and children noted that the political mood of Rivers State today calls for caution, and the need to foster unity, brotherliness, peace and it’s corollary Justice, equity and inclusiveness. To this end, the session, especially appealed to other parts of Rivers State to, as brothers, give the Eastern Delta people (Rivers Ijaws) who live by the coastline, the necessary support and cooperation to produce the next Governor of Rivers State in 2015 in the spirit of equity and inclusiveness.

    The session, being conscious of the fact that our brothers from the upland part of the State have led the state creditably for 16 unbroken years advises that to deny their brothers and sisters from the Riverine axis of the state from producing the next governor will be laying the foundation for injustice and exclusiveness with its attendant consequences. Similarly, the session acknowledged the agitation by other groups to be given opportunity to govern Rivers State notably the people of Rivers South East Senatorial District, which includes the Elemes and Ogonis, as genuine but appeals to them to consider our geo-political history and politico historical conventions and support Rivers Ijaws with the firm belief that other groups will also have their opportunities in future. In the event that zoning along senatorial lines become inevitable, the session believes strongly that there are credible God-fearing Ijaws in all three Senatorial Districts in Rivers State.”

    The women urged the people of the state to participate in the electoral process. They said: “The session reviewed recent political events in Rivers State and expressed concern about rising political tension in the State. While commending Rivers people as peace loving and law abiding, the session condemns in its entirety the introduction of violence and intimidation in the politics of Rivers State and appeals to politicians to go about their political activities with decorum and the fear of God.

    The session advises politicians to know that power comes from God and no force or corruption of the system can give anyone power and thus cautions politicians against making inflammatory statements capable of threatening the peace of the State. Similarly, the session calls on all Rivers women to be vigilant, ensure that they register and vote in the forthcoming general elections to choose leaders who best represent the ideals that River people are known for. The session equally enjoins all Rivers Women to participate in a 21 day fasting and prayer programme in January 2015 to seek God’s face for peaceful and violence-free elections.”

    Dame Toby said: “If any Ijaw woman will cast her vote in the next general election in the state, I, therefore, beg the political parties in the state to pick their candidates from the Riverine area of the state to promote an egalitarian society. Riverine people should have an opportunity in the governance of the state.

    “It is time to define the role of women in the politics of Rivers State. We must make use of optimum opportunity of this gathering to ensure that Ijaw women take their right place in the politics of Rivers state.”

    Prof. Willy-Abbey said: “Today we gathered together for consultation and exchange of information and opinion on tackling the challenges facing the women in Niger Delta, particularly the Eastern Delta region.  We must take over the politics of Rivers State come 2015.

    “Ijaw women must be ready to pack out of Rivers State if they are not considered in the scheme of thing. But, how ready are women to take over position in the political environment of our region? We must be adequately equipped for the battle come 2015.”

    The women’s position is in consonnance with the men in the EDPA.

    An Ijaw activist, Alatubo Charles Harry, recently argued that: “Rivers Ijaws will not sit still and watch idly our posterity and heritage consigned to hewers of wood and fetchers of water in the political matrix of our state.”

    A Kalabari politician, Nimi Walson-Jack, also  said recently: “Upland/riverine dichotomy is something that has been on. We respect the sentiment that has held these two together. Everybody who is well-meaning will decide on the right thing to do at the end of the day.”

    Barisi Benson Nnah of the Centre for Peace and Development in Ogoni, a Rivers State-based non-governmental organisation, believes in the Ijaw cause.

    He said: “The selfish interest of some individuals who want to be governor against collective interest of the Rivers State people made the ongoing National Conference to exclude Bori State or Ogoni State from the list of states being proposed for creation.

    “It is regrettable that the lessons of the over 20 years of the Ogoni struggle for self-determination seems not yet properly assimilated and a golden opportunity as this will slip away and be sacrificed for a mere governorship ambition of some self-seeking individuals pretending to bear Ogoni interests.”

  • Rivers Ijaw…Unique people, great culture, endless prospects

    Rivers Ijaw…Unique people, great culture, endless prospects

    In Rivers State, the people have, for a long time, seen themselves as made up of upland and riverine groups. The riverine people are the Ijaw, who believe it is their turn to produce the next governor of the state. BISI OLANIYI examines this unique people.

    Ijaw, arguably the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria, with fishing as the people’s major occupation, have a noticeable presence in six states in the country- Ondo,Edo,Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. Ijaws say the word means “truth” or “justice”. Culturally the Ijaws are divided into three blocks following natural river courses. You have Western Ijaws in Ondo, Edo and Delta states;central Ijaw is primarily found in Bayelsa State while Eastern Ijaws are found in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. Rivers Ijaws are seen by others as urbane and highly educated due to early contact with Europeans.

    The Rivers Ijaw people are  spread across the coastlines in the over ten local government areas of Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Bonny, Okrika, Ogu-Bolo, Port Harcourt (South), Asari-Toru, Degema, Akuku-Toru and Abua-Odual effectively make them more than one third of the state both in population and landmass. The state has 23 local government areas.

    The Ijaw have unique culture and they always stand out of the crowd. The dressing of an Ijaw man will not be complete without the bowler (resource control) hat and a walking stick. It is rare to find an Ijaw man in “agbada,”. They have their special top and trousers, which at times is referred to as “chieftaincy”.

    Married Ijaw women always traditionally tie two wrappers, with matching blouse, while the single lady will tie one wrapper with the blouse. Both men and women like to complement their dressing with expensive coral beads and gold.

    Conducting marriage in Ijaw takes three stages of knocking of door, which is referred to as introduction in the Southwest, to be followed by traditional marriage and rounded off with elaborate church marriage.

    Burial in Ijaw is always very expensive, with the deceased’s house first renovated and repainted.  Efforts will quickly be made to build house, in a situation where the loved one could not build house till the death, while the body may be in the morgue for many months.

    Ijaw people prefer to bury the dead on Saturday morning, while there will be a Christian wake, popularly called “Obito” on Friday evening, to be followed by social wake till dawn.

    The food items, plantain is the most popular ,soup, stew and drinks of the Ijaw people are also unique, in view of their hospitable nature. With different types, shapes and sizes of fish, their visitors always feel at home.

    They also spare time for “Owambe” (elaborate partying) with uniforms (aso ebi), especially during chieftaincy celebration, house warming, burial, marriage or child dedication.

    In spite of the Rivers Ijawland’s richness in crude oil and gas, the people still complain of marginalisation, neglect, pollution and environmental degradation, while calling for increase in the 13 per cent derivation to crude oil and gas producing communities, as well as special attention to be given to the host communities, in terms of development and empowerment of the people.

     

     Upland-riverine dichotomy/ prominent sons

    Right from inception, the politics of Rivers State has been played around a concept referred to as Upland/ Riverine dichotomy. Riverine actually refers to Ijaws. Nobody remembers the origin of the concept but all Ijaws agree that it predates the popular Willinks Commission that was set up by the British in 1956 to look into the fears of the minorities/ coastal dwellers. This upland /riverine dichotomy reflects in almost all allocation of political offices from 1979 to date. Since 1999, only the upland part of Rivers State has been at the helm of affairs.  This is the root of the current agitation by all Ijaws in Rivers State to be given an opportunity to produce the next governor of Rivers State. This agitation no doubt enjoys the support of other ethnic groups in Rivers State. Recently three groups, Ikwerre Alliance , Eleme General Assembly and Etche Peoples Assembly, threw their weight behind the riverine agitation describing it as just and fair.

    The Ijaw people in Rivers State, while appealing for understanding and support by their brothers, under the umbrella of the Eastern Delta People’s Association (EDPA), through the Chairman of the Steering Committee, Lawrence Jumbo, declared that: “On upland/riverine dichotomy we stand.” The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has been vocal on their call for a Governor of Ijaw extraction in Rivers State.

    Prominent Rivers Ijaws are distributed in Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressive Congress (APC). APC chieftains include former Deputy Governor Sir Gabriel Toby, Dr Sam Sam Jaja, representative of the Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Rt Hon Otele Amachree,  Dawari George, Dr Sokonte Davies,among others.

    PDP chieftains include First Lady Dame Patience (Okrika), Prince Tonye Princewill, Alabo Pawariso B J Horsefall, Senator George Sekibo from Okrika, Dumo Lulu Briggs, Prince  Uche Secondus ,Nimi Walson-Jack and Alatubo Charles Harry, amongst others.

    Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, Prof Tam David-West, Chief A K Horsfall, Prof Nimi Briggs, Chief Rufus Ada George, Ambassador Tari Sekibo, HRH Prof DMJ Fubara, Dr Silas Eneyo, Dr Abiye Sekibo, Senator A M Pepple, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya and Sampson Ngerebara, an engineer, are also Ijaw leaders of note. One thing unique about the ijaw agitation is that all the people are united behind the cause.

    Harry appears to be the arrow head of the Ijaw struggle. He once ran for the Presidency of the umbrella body of the Ijaw in Nigeria, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and is the brain behind the Ijaw Republican Assembly (IRA). He is championing the cause of an Ijaw governor after Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    He is the man behind the Rivers Democratic Movement (RDM) and is now better known for a pressure group, Affirmative Bloc for Credible Democracy (ABCD).

    In August last year, he authored a piece titled ‘Why Ogoni can’t succeed Amaechi’. In the piece he made it clear that Ogoni is part of Upland Rivers, which has been ruling the state since 1999. It is now the turn of the riverine part of the state, he said.

    He wrote: “Old Rivers State was created on the 27th of May 1967 from the then Eastern Region and further balkanised into Bayelsa and the present day Rivers State in 1996. Made up predominantly of Riverine Ijaw (Kalabari, Okrikan, Ibani, Andoni, etc) and the Upland (Ikwerre’s, Ogoni’s, Ekpeye, Etche, Oyigbo, Ogba’s etc). From inception, harmony, brotherhood and cooperation has been sustained through the efficacy and conscientious application and observation of the Upland/Riverine dichotomy principle in the allocation of socio-political and economic gains accruing to the State, as a balancing ideology to promote unity and discourage discord.”

    He went on: “Some erstwhile leaders who had tried to repudiate the principle had failed spectacularly and the budding revisionism borne of the myopia of inordinate ambition of an unconscionable few today, would fare no better.”

    Harry believes the Ogoni should in good faith ought to concede the exalted position to their Riverine neighbours. Failure to do this, he said would amount to excluding the riverine component of the state from the power matrix for 24 years.

    Last week, Harry wrote another treatise. His focus was to insist on the riverine’s right to succeed Amaechi. He said even with the agitation that only the Rivers South East senatorial district that is yet to produce a Governor, that there are Ijaws in all senatorial districts in Rivers State.

    He also advised the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, to forget about running for Rivers State governor. Harry said his ambition was immoral, height of injustice and greed, negates equity and against the public conscience  in the state.

    He said: “Rivers Ijaws will not sit still and watch idly our posterity and heritage consigned to hewers of wood and fetchers of water in the political matrix of our state.”

    A Kalabari son, Walson-Jack, is an ex-General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Speaking at his 50th birthday recently, he expressed worry about some Rivers people’s endorsement of Wike as the governorship candidate of the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Walson-Jack said: “Upland/riverine dichotomy is something that has been on. We respect the sentiment that has held these two together. Everybody who is well-meaning will decide on the right thing to do at the end of the day. Rest assured that the PDP will take a position that Rivers people will be proud of,

    “We need to have a better society. We need to have a society that is caring and we need to have a society that will no longer monopolise prosperity. We must have a society that will share prosperity. We are so prosperous. So loved by God, but we have a society that has left more than 90 per cent of its people behind. All of that has to change. We need to have a government that will accommodate everybody.

    “Wike has not told anybody he will run and I think at this point we should not be talking about body language, but he has been endorsed by some groups. I have also been endorsed by so many persons, but at the end of the day, we shall do what is the best for Rivers State. The PDP will put its house together and present somebody that will be acceptable to all Rivers people.”

    Another PDP candidate, Engr Jack, said PDP cannot afford to take Rivers people for granted by presenting an upland candidate. He counseled that APC is the party in Government in Rivers State and is equally blessed with credible candidates, such as Senator Magnus Abe, a very articulate politician and Dr. Peterside, who is generally seen as humble, God-fearing and a grassroots politician.

    Walson-Jack added: “I am going to run (as Rivers Governor in 2015). A lot of work has been done. My campaign office is ready, but INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) says we cannot start campaign now. So, we have not gone out to begin to campaign. Therefore, we are talking to major stakeholders and so far, I feel that the reception is amazing too and I feel encouraged.”

    Even non-Ijaw, such as Barisi Benson Nnah, are rooting for Ijaw governor. Speaking through the Centre for Peace and Development in Ogoni, a Rivers State-based non-governmental organisation, of which he is the president, Nnah has faulted the quest by the people of Ogoni in Rivers State to govern the state in 2015.

    Nnah said: “The selfish interest of some individuals who want to be governor against collective interest of the Rivers State people made the ongoing National Conference to exclude Bori State or Ogoni State from the list of states being proposed for creation.

    “It was due to the failure of the Ogoni leadership to submit a request for state creation to the national conference secretariat that has now made it impossible for us to have our state listed for creation. They are so fixated on how they would manipulate the process to make an Ogoni man a governor in Rivers in 2015 and we all know that it is not possible, because we know it is the turn of the riverine area.”

    He further blamed the exclusion of Ogoni or Bori State on what he described as “the lucrative business called Ogoni Governorship-Project 2015 which has now swallowed up the vision of Ogoni and MOSOP (Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People). What has happened is a lifetime opportunity lost.”

    He added: “It is regrettable that the lessons of the over 20 years of the Ogoni struggle for self-determination seems not yet properly assimilated and a golden opportunity as this will slip away and be sacrificed for a mere governorship ambition of some self-seeking individuals pretending to bear Ogoni interests.”

    The group urged the Ogoni people to spell out their preferences and pursue the issue of self-determination in the interest of all rather than a self-seeking governorship project disguised as an Ogoni project.

    Ijaw in other placesIjaw are also found in Delta states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Ondo, rich in crude oil and gas.

    With their specialty in fishing along the coastlines, Ijaw people also settle in Cross River and Lagos states, especially in Ajegunle and other coastal communities.

    Bayelsa State, the heart of the Niger Delta, is regarded as the headquarters of the Ijaw nation. Bayelsa is the only homogenous Ijaw state.

    There is the Ijaw National Congress (INC), which is the umbrella organisation of the Ijaw people, while the youths have the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).

    For administrative convenience, INC and IYC have the western, central and eastern zones. The western zone is made up of Delta, Edo and Ondo states. The central zone is mainly Bayelsa State. The eastern zone consists of Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

  • Ijaw youths: we’re ready for dissolution

    Ijaw youths: we’re ready for dissolution

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) said yesterday that it was prepared for the dissolution of Nigeria.

    The youths noted that Nigeria was long overdue for division, insisting that oil wealth was the only cord binding the country together.

    The statement followed calls from northern youths that Nigeria should be dissolved peacefully.

    The Ijaw youths said their northern counterparts spoke when they visited the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.

    But IYC, in a statement by its spokesman, Eric Omare, said: “To the IYC, this call by northern youths has vindicated our age long position that the only thing holding Nigeria together is the petrodollars from the Niger Delta.

    “By this call, it is now clear that the moment the oil wells in the Niger Delta dry up, Nigeria would cease to exist.

    “We also welcome the call by northern youths for northerners in the South to return home within two weeks,” he said.

    The IYC statement called on Niger Deltans and southerners living in the North to return home.

    “The IYC wish to strongly call and warn Niger Deltans and southerners in the North to take this call very serious.

    “The IYC calls on Niger Delta governors and other southern governors to accommodate and take care of southerners who would return home. We call on Niger Deltans to be vigilant in the coming days,” the statement said.

  • Charles Harry, Rivers politics and Ijaw governor

    Those not conversant with Rivers State politics may not know him. His names are Charles Harry. His title is Alatubo. Hence he is known as Alatubo Charles Harry.

    He ran for the Presidency of the umbrella body of the Ijaw in Nigeria, the Ijaw National Congress (INC). He was the brain behind the Ijaw Republican Assembly (IRA).  He is the  man behind the Rivers Democratic Movement (RDM) and is now better known for a pressure group, Affirmative Bloc for Credible Democracy (ABCD). A commentator once described him thus:  “He is known for his forthrightness, blunt outspokenness, and controversial irrepressibility…Alatubo Charles Harry is an enigma in Rivers politics and an avowed Ijaw irredentist.”

    In August last year, he authored a piece titled ‘Why Ogoni can’t succeed Amaechi’. In the piece he made it clear that Ogoni is part of Upland Rivers, which has been ruling the state since 1999. It is now the turn of the riverine part of the state, he said clearly.

    He wrote: “Old Rivers State was created on the 27th of May 1967 from the then Eastern Region and further balkanised into Bayelsa and the present day Rivers State in 1996. Made up predominantly of Riverine Ijaw (Kalabari, Okrikan, Ibani, Andoni, etc) and the Upland (Ikwerre’s, Ogoni’s, Ekpeye, Etche, Oyigbo, Ogba’s etc). From inception, harmony, brotherhood and cooperation has been sustained through the efficacy and conscientious application and observation of the Upland/Riverine dichotomy principle in the allocation of socio-political and economic gains accruing to the State, as a balancing ideology to promote unity and discourage discord.”

    He went on: “Some erstwhile leaders who had tried to repudiate the principle had failed spectacularly and the budding revisionism borne of the myopia of inordinate ambition of an unconscionable few today, would fare no better.”

    The last riverine man to occupy the office, Chief Ada George is Riverine, lasted less than 2 years. After him, Dr Peter Odili and Governor Rotimi Amaechi have occupied the seat for close to 16 years. They are both from the upland.

    Harry believes the Ogoni  should in good faith ought to concede the exalted position to their Riverine neighbours. Failure to do this, he said would amount to excluding the riverine component of the state from the power matrix for 24 years.

    Earlier this week, Harry wrote another treatise. His focus was to insist on the riverine’s right to succeed Amaechi.

    He also advised the Supervising Minister for Education, Nyesom Wike, to forget about running for Rivers State governor.

    Harry said his ambition was against the public perception in the state.

    Said he: “Rivers Ijaws will not sit still and watch idly our posterity and heritage consigned to hewers of wood and fetchers of water in the political matrix of our state.”

    If Rivers’ people have a gentleman’s agreement on the leadership of their state, this is no time to break it, as doing so may do more harm than good.

    The state has more than 30 ethnic groups and so talking about rotation of offices among 30 ethnic groups is not realistic. What is practicable is the two main geopolitical divide- upland and riverine or the three senatorial districts .

    It is not realistic to say after Dr Odili, an Ndoni man, it is the turn of an Egbema or Egi man from the same Local Government Area  because they are of another ethnic stock. It is also not practicable to say after Amaechi from Ikwerre, let  another Ikwerre man from a different Local Government Area or an Etche man take over the seat because it is another ethnic nationality or after an Ogoni, let an Eleme man become governor.

    Broadly, the upland part of the state is made up of different ethnic nationalities as the riverine too.

    What is fair is for the governorship to rotate among different ethnic groups when it comes to a particular geopolitical divide. So, when it is the upland’s turn, let all the groups in the upland part of the state be considered and when it comes to the riverine’s turn, let it rotate among the different groups there.