IJAW UNITY IMPERATIVE NOW
Commentary Page 4
By Presidor Ghomorai
“How
well have we faired in the area of getting a well articulated paper to
push for our agitation for more States, Local Government Areas and
Boundary adjustments?”
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 Ijaw people 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 the need for us (Ijaw) to come together and
work consciously for the Ijaw nation to move forward. As the fourth
largest ethnic group with a population of over 15 million, and the
producers of approximately 85% 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 the 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 groups 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 Okrika man (Wakrikase man) sees the Kolokuma
man differently just as he sees the Yoruba man at the centre. This has
resulted in Ijaw not being able to unite to fight on a common front by
coming together as Ijaw rather they prefer to identify in most cases
with their clan and 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 out looking 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 and Bayelsa states or Olodiama
Ijo of Edo state or the Arogbo Ijo of Ondo state or Andoni Ijaw of Akwa
- Ibom State until only recently. 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, Ogbia, Epie, 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, as we Ijaws by the grace of God are proud to say
we occupy the office of the President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria and the Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, we
have a State Governor who is Ijaw, 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,
the highest number by any ethnic group after the Hausa\Fulani, Yoruba
and Igbo ethnic nationalists.
It is also on record for now; we
have two Speakers in the two State Houses of Assembly, Bayelsa and
Rivers States with a Deputy Speaker in Delta State. Ijaw, also in this
dispensation have three full time Federal Ministers in the Federal
Executive Council of about 39 members. They are Mrs. Deziani
Alison-Madueke - Petroleum, Elder Godsday Orubebe-Niger Delta Affairs
and Henry Odein Ajumogobia –Foreign Affairs. We have about thirteen
(13) 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, Bomadi
and Warri South West Local Government area 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 Councils, 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 deliberately Balkanized
and denied local government council areas but they have wards that they
predominantly control, hence the best they can get in that situation are
councilors 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., as the
Ijaws did put in place, credible platforms to articulate home the Ijaw
position in Warri. Then, 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 Late HRM Harold Dappa Biriye,
Late Major Adaka Boro, Late Ernest Sesei Ikoli, Late Capt. Nottingham Dick,
Late Capt. Amangala, Late Big Daddy George Weikezi, Late Comrade Tony Oladipo
Engurube, Late Barr. Nebo Graham Douglass, 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, Late Mrs. Grace
Kabowei, Late Chief Richard Jolowo, Late Chief Hausa Brisibe, Late Chief
Zebulon Abule, Late Dr. Sammie Ebiye, Late HM. Prof. Egbe Ifie,
Late Senator Melford Okilo, Late Rear Admiral N. B. Soroh, Late Chief Idoniye-Obu,
Late Chief G.O.C Oki, Late Goddy Ekiyor, Late Dr. S. A. Bobo-Jama, Late
Barrister Eniwari, Late Chief Chris Ghomorai, Late Mrs. Alaere Alaibe, Late
Prof. Don-Pedro all of best memory as we also at this instance
mention names like HM Alfred Diete-Spiff, Senator Amatere Zoufa, Dr. Gabriel
Okara, Hon. Ezeke, Amb. Lawrence Ekpebu, Amb. J.T. Iyalla, Captain Sam.
Owunaru (Rtd.) Chief Ebitimi Banigo, HM Princewill, Prof. Tam David West,
Brig.-Gen. C.K. Emein (rtd.) Chief M.Y. Mamamu, Chief (Hon.) C.F.Abeki,
Chief Patrick Keku, Chief E. Senibo Princewill, Dr. M. T. Akobo, Professor
Dagogo Fubara, Professor E. Allagoa, Professor Tekena Tamuno, Professor
C.A. Dime, Chief E. K Clark, Chief Ombo Isokariari, AVM Emmanuel Ombu,
Chief Anderson Eseimokumoh, Chief Bukazi Etete, Chief (Engr.) Pere Ajuwa,
Chief Ebenezer Isokariari, Prof. Kimse Okoko Chief Francis Doukpolagha,
Dr. Dele Cole, HM (Dr.) Edmund Daukoru, Chief Chamberlain Oyibo, Admiral
Victor Ombu, Chief A.A. Ibiama, Chief Lulu Briggs, Chief Victor Ekiye,
Chief J. B. Fumudoh , Chief Wellington Okirika, Ndutimi Alaibe, Chief
Dan Etete, Air Vice Marshal Larry Koinyan (rtd.) High Chief Francis Williams,
Sir Gabriel Toby, Mr. Pius Uromi Owu, Mr. Patrick Erasmus, Chief A.K. Horsfall,
Alabo Graham Douglas, Barr. H. S. Dickson, Rear Admiral F.B.I. Porbeni,
Dr. Amba Ambaowei, Dr. Peterside Atedo, Mr. E. Iyabi, Chief (Dr.) DSP Alamieyesiegha
J.P, Chief (Engr.) P.S. Kentebe, Dr. Pius Sinebe, Senator James Manager,
Chief H.H. Krukrubo Amb. (Dr.) B. Igali, Dr. Atuboyedia Obianime,
Oronto Douglas, P.Z.Aginighan, Mr. Rowland Ekperi, Dr. Ebipamone Nanakumo,
Dr. Abio Sokari, Chief W.K. Agamene Prof. David A. Iyegha, Mr. Peter
Edu, High Chief Karina Tunyan (SAN) Asu Beks, Sergeant Werenipre Digifa
Prof. Otus Adukuwas-Osu, Navy Capt. Y. A. Ojujoh (Rtd), Dr. Aaron Foisi
Nmungwun, Dr. Sofiri Joab Peterside, Chief (Dr.) Charles I. Numbere (JP),
Elder T.K.Ogoriba, Alhaji Dokubo Asari, Dr. Oboko Bello, Wing Commander
(Hon.) P.Y.Biakpara (Rtd.) Gen. A.O.Azazi (rtd.) Gen. K. Aprezi (rtd.)
Gen. Toun, (Rtd.) Prince Tonye Princewill, Mr. Dan. Ekpebide, Col. Godfrey
Okoro (Rtd.), Chief David Peres, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, Mr. Ebilate Mac-Yoroki,
Tony Uranta, Arc. Amagbe Denzil Kentebe, Comrade Joseph Evah, Patterson
Ogon, Dr. Felix Tuodolor, Dr. Chris Ekiyor without forgetting the
womenfolk include the likes of Chief (Mrs.) Lucy Brisibe, HM Beatrice Agama,
Dr. Stella Dorgu, Dr. Gesiere Dorgu, Chief Theresa Oke-Nee Denisah, Dr.
Bolere Ketebu-Nwokeafor, Dr. (Mrs.) Grace Koroye, Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agary,
Professor Ayebeami I. Spiff , Dr. (Mrs.) M. Ekiyor, Ms. Ann Kio Briggs
and a host of others who have given their utmost (including their lives).
Sadly, for the most part, Ijaw have failed to transform our fortunes to
better the lot of the Ijaw in generality. At every instant, the Ijaw people
tried hard to make their point beyond every reasonable doubt but go to
sleep after establishing its fact. Hence we can conveniently say Ijaw under
crisis 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? Are we really comfortable with the news items emanating from
our “BAYELSA”? What about Delta State and Rivers State? It’s the same
unpleasant stories of backstabbing and character assassination,
unhealthy rivalry and a seriously high degree of GREED. How well have
we faired in the area of getting a well articulated paper to push for
our agitation for more States, Local Government Areas and Boundary
adjustments? Most recently what has come to play with the activities of
the Niger Delta Development Commission
NDDC? Has the Commission
readily addressed the high degree of poverty and marginalisation in the
Ijaw nation? Then the case of Amnesty and Post-amnesty programme that
is being put in place by Federal government, are we anywhere better, we
sure know your guess may be as inconceivable as we have on ground.
It
is on this premise that we call for Ijaw unity now. Agreed the Ijaw
people are a formidable group hence we must stop ourselves from being
dogged by undignified 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 Holy 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 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 Ijaw let us unite and be God fearing. We have a resounding
opportunity to change the fortunes of the Ijaw nation, the Niger Delta
and Nigeria at large for the better. Posterity will judge us all for
our commitment in bringing succor to our people.
Please let us
praise and give adoration to the Most High as we must in unison agree
that the Ijaw Nation must grow and this we must proclaim because this
we know, hence we affirm in the great axiom “Yes, we can” made popular
by President Barack Obama of the United State of America. Therefore all
hands must be on deck and May the Almighty God sees us through. Amen.
Izon otu annuanio! |
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