Ijaw Margainalising Other Niger Delta Ethnic Groups

The struggle for the emancipation of Niger Delta region by the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria: Ibo, Hausa, Yoruba has a long history. In spite of the fact that the Niger Delta is the hub of oil and gas which is Nigeria’s economic mainstay, the Ibos, Yorubas and Hausas have unfairly dominated in sharing the nation’s economic wealth.

This wicked marginalisation forms the crux of the Niger Delta struggle which bounds together other ethnic groups in the region.

However, we in ISOKO VANGUARD FOR CHANGE have observed that the same way the three larger ethnic groups(Ibo,Hausa,Yoruba) dominate the Niger Delta, so the Ijaw ethnic group derives joy in dominating the other smaller ethnic groups in Niger Delta. The Ijaws have formed the habit of cornering whatever opportunities, appointments, projects and contract execution coming to the Niger Delta or South South geo-political zone.

As a result , the Isokos, Ibibios, Ikwerres, Itsekiris, Etche’s, Ogba’s, Ogoni’s amongst numerous others have become victims in the hands of the Ijaw’s who constitute the major ethnic group in the Region.

Take for instance, during the emergence of the immediate Past president Goodluck Jonathan, who is a son of Ijaw land, most of the Political positions, appointments, contracts, projects meant for the region where seen as properties exclusively for the Ijaws.

Infact, one can say without fear of contradiction that the seemingly greedy manner of the Ijaws against other ethnic groups resulted in the very low support given to Jonathan during his re-election bid which resulted in his landslide defeat.

It is funny to recollect outplay of the Ijaw greed when Jonathan, at the last minutes in Power, started revoking contracts cited in other regions and transferring them to Ijaw land. He also employed thousands of Ijaw sons and daughter into Federal Civil Service, and even began to award contracts which he could not do for over six years in power. Other ethnic groups in Niger Delta never mattered to him except Ijaw, yet this is a man whose opportunity to become President was as a result of the Niger Delta struggle embarked upon by all the ethnic groups in Niger Delta.

But suddenly when Jonathan became President, he became the perfect answer to the struggle, resource control, true federalism and other points of Niger Delta agitation.

The question Isoko Vanguard For Change is asking the Ijaw is, where is the justice in the Niger Delta struggle?

Having been well empowered during the past administration the Ijaws appear to be too big for the Niger Delta struggle as whatever thing they do now they no longer call it Niger Delta struggle but Ijaw struggle. Has the Niger Delta struggle become synonymous with Ijaw struggle?

If the agitation is against domination by the three larger ethnic groups in Nigeria, is it not an irony that the Ijaws were turning back to also marginalise and dominate the other sister ethnic groups in the Niger Delta struggle?

Unlike what the present Ijaws, and Jonathan are doing, former champions of the struggle as Isaac AdakaBoro, Ernest Ikoli, Chief OkotieEboh, Anthony Enahoro, DappaBiriye, Paul Birabi, Prof. Claude Ake, Chief MelfordObeneOkilo, Obi Wali, Ken SaroWiwa amongst numerous others of blessed memory saw the deprived people of Niger Delta as one.

The Ijaws cannot continue to fool the rest of us in the struggle. We are one when it comes to sowing but during harvest, the Ijaws become the lords. To be marginalised by a foreigner is better than that of a near brother. Let the Ijaws refrain from playing double standard by oppressing other ethnic groups in Niger Delta only for the Ijaw to grow.

Secondly, the Vanguard strongly support the present leadership of MuhammaduBuhari. We also support him in his determination against corruption.

We advise him to maintain neutrality in the leadership crisis in the National Assembly. We belief that having emerged as president, he should see himself as a father of the nation.

He should be above his political party (APC) and carry every Nigerian along, irrespective of party, religions, tribal or whatever sentiment. That is one way he would succeed.

We also advise him to be cautious in his romance with the leader of United States of America and other advance countries especially on the issue of same sex marriage.

Same sex marriage is alien to African culture and any attempt for Buhari to embrace it, marks the beginning of the end of his government and possibly the end of Nigeria’s history.

We welcome Mr President’s extension of hands of fellowship to Niger Delta in his inaugural speech. We advise that since the administration is ending Amnesty to Niger Delta ex-militants, let FG pay up all allowances owed the youths and also find a way of engaging the Niger Delta youths so that they don’t go back to crime.

Sign by:
Comrade Ekomeko Gilead Omona
phone:08066551602