The current crisis in River State is an attack on the Ijaw nation. As clans and Kingdom’s of ijaw nation within Delta State and Edo state, we the people of Egbama, Gbaramatu, Isaba and Ogbe-Ijoh, we are fully aware that these are activities aimed at silencing the voice of the Ijaw people in Nigeria.
Eight years ago, we witnessed how an Ijaw man was disgraced from office and removed from the presidential villa. The Ijaw people were reduced to nothing because the Ijaw nation failed to act when President Goodluck Jonathan was removed. We, the Gbaramatu Ijaw, Egbama Ijaw, Isaba Ijaw, and Ogbe-Ijoh clan, have agreed in solidarity to stand by our Ijaw brothers in River State.
This is a cry from all Ijaw youths; this is an Ijaw national battle against federal government oppression. The Ijaw nation will not take this lightly. We from Delta State and Bayelsa State will join forces to ensure that this disgrace stops once and for all. The government cannot take our oil, fight, and disgrace us while they use our oil to build Abuja and devastate our state.
This is bigger than Fubara; the Ijaw nation will stand and defend ourselves with our last breath. We are aware that they are making further plans to wipe out the Ijaw nation from power, even attempting to take our God-given resources from us. They want to enslave us and disguise it as a political battle.
The gold they possess, they hoard; their cattle, they keep. But the Ijaw oil is shared among all, yet they do not want an Ijaw person in power. We will utilize all strategies at our disposal; we will cripple the economy as they have chosen to cripple our state.
We will unite forces to reclaim our rights. They have failed to appoint an Ijaw person as Minister of Petroleum because they want total control of our resources. How can you appoint an Ijaw nation state minister of Petroleum, a position that the GMD of NNPCL is more powerful than? What an insult to the Ijaw nation; it is more like being an errand servant. As a people, we have decided to stand up and resist it.
We are using this medium to call upon all Ijaws to join this battle. The Ijaws are not minorities; all Ijaws in Bomadi, Patani, Burutu, Ondo, Uvwie, Udu, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Edo, Lagos, and those in the diaspora should unite in this struggle for the soul of the Ijaw nation. This oppression must cease; the Ijaw nation will stand and defend its land. Asawana, wana.
Signed.
Comr. Tamaradenyeifa Iroroyekenigha
Ogbe-Ijoh Representative
Mr. Emizibo Seiyefa
Egbama Representative
Comr. Ayibatari Tarila
Isaba Representative
Comr. Binatari Ekpokememi
Gbaramatu Representative
Sir Fetiemo Ebiwari
Bomadi Representative
Mr. Kemepade Adibobouegbe
Burutu Representative
Comr. Faafa Peibolu
Patani Representative
