Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the President of the Ijaw National Congress, has expressed his dismay at President Bola Tinubu’s refusal to warn Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike about the political turmoil that the latter is allegedly responsible for in Rivers State.
According to Okaba, the President’s silence while Wike was embarrassing his state and the country demonstrated that the people supported him. Wike had dared the Ijaw nation, and the people were upset.
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This is because, in his words, the Ijaw nation and the people of the Niger Delta can no longer ensure the security of the oil facilities in the area, despite the Ijaw nation’s hosting oil riches and installations that support the nation for far too long.
After leading hundreds of Ijaws youths on a solidarity march to the governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, on Friday, he made these remarks to reporters shortly after arriving at Government House, Port Harcourt.
“We are already incensed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has marginalised Ijaw people,” he claims. None of the three people chosen for a federal job in Delta State are from the Ijaw nation.
The Ijaws are the most economically viable group in that state in the interim. We’re taking note of everything. However, his silence and acceptance of Wike’s misbehaviour indicate that there is some tacit backing. And we won’t accept that.
“As we speak, our people are so enraged and frustrated that we can no longer guarantee the safety of the oil installations in Ijaw land and our region if things continue in this manner.”
“And if you (President) take us for granted, proceed,” he continued. It will be interesting to see if the Ijaw people are still the ones who can speak up and bring about change.
Nigeria has been surviving off the oil produced in Ijaw land since 1958. These days, we lament marginalisation, which we refer to as environmental degradation.
When it comes to climate change and other related issues, the Ijaw nation is most impacted. On a daily basis, however, we are not treated like humans. This has to end.
“40 million Ijaw people feel hurt and resentful. Furthermore, they claim that a slap on Governor Fubara is a slap on the Ijaw people as a whole.
“It is a call for fire to further close down or politicise the space in order to remove Siminalayi Fubara from office.”
