An Ijaw group under the aegis of Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI), has threatened to shut down Edo State Government House, Benin City and office of the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC), over alleged failure to include an Ijaw person in oil producing communities in the state into the board of EDSOGPADEC.
IPDI in a statement endorsed by Messrs Austin Ozobo and Ezekiel Daniel, President and spokesperson of the group, respectively, alleged that the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, took the decision not to have ijaw representative in the EDSOGPADEC board was influence by the Oba of Benin.
“Ijaw people have resolved to lead a protest to close down Edo State Government House and the complex of EDOSOPADEC in the state capital. We do not deserve to be treated as slaves in our mother’s land. Edo state will be on fire. President Buhari should hold Godwin Obaseki and Oba of Benin responsible for any break down of law and order in the state.
“In the light of this, we call on all Ijaw sons and daughters, ex-militants and agitators to rise up from their sleeping slumber and quickly prepare for a show down in Edo state to quickly liberate our brothers and sisters in Edo state.
“Ijaw people were hopeful that they will be recognized and included in the just inaugurated board of EDOSOPADEC based on Edo government’s resolve for peace, early this year, being core oil and gas producing communities in the state.
“But it is distasteful that Edo- Ijaws being the major oil producing communities are perpetually excluded and unrecognized as oil producing communities by successive Edo state governments. Ijaws are in their own land, they are not visitors or strangers but aborigines of Edo state.
“We expect every well-meaning person to strongly condemn the continued intimidation and marginalization of Ijaw people in Edo state. We are disappointed by Godwin Obaseki- led Edo state government. He is tribalistic and not fit to govern a multi-ethnic state such as Edo state. The world should not blame us if we decide to go for self-defense. A stitch in time saves nine.
“It is our unequivocal demand that Godwin Obaseki should quickly swing into action in a view of recognizing and including all oil and gas reproducing Ijaw communities in Edo state in EDOSOPADEC without further delay to avoid any break down of law and order in Edo state.
“Edo people have gone beyond their limit and we will not accept it any longer. It is very unfortunate that Obaseki is turning a national disgrace. How can in this modern society some people are still treated like slaves by privileged people. We will give him war. We have been pushed to the wall. Except Ijaw is recognized in EDOSOPADEC, peace will elude his government,” the group stated.
It will be recalled that in December, 2017, another Ijaw group – “Ijaw Freedom Fighters” allegedly drawn from the six Niger Delta States, had threatened to unleash violence on the state, if the state governor and the Oba of Benin failed within 21 days to tender “unreserved apology to the Pere of “Olodiama kingdom” as well as the entire Ijaw nation for calling Olodiama kingdom a “Non – Existent Kingdom”.
The Ijaw Freedom Fighters handed down the ultimatum in a statement signed by Commander Keme Boudiwei and Commander Seimokoromor Anthony, after an emergency meeting in Rivers State by its leaders from Edo, Bayelsa, Ondo, Delta and Akwa-Ibom State.
The Ijaw Freedom Fighters also threatened to storm the Edo State Government House and the Palace of the Oba of Benin Kingdom if the duo failed to comply with the twenty one day ultimatum.
They stated that the Edo State Government did not include any traditional ruler from Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers, saying that by so doing, the Edo State Government had declared war on the entire Ijaw Nation.
The Freedom Fighters also demanded that the Ijaw Traditional Rulers in Edo State be included in the state’s traditional council within the twenty one day ultimatum.
The IFF also extended their warning to oil companies and organizations operating within its self acclaimed territories to stop dealings with the Oba of Benin and Edo State Government with immediate effect, stressing that “failure to, will lead to disaster.”.
“We demand all oil companies, organizations operating in Ijaw territories in Edo State to stop dealings with the Oba of Benin and Edo State Government with immediate effect. Failure to do that will lead to total disaster.
“We repeat, we are giving Edo State Government 21 days to correct all abnormalities or else we will mobilize all our members from the aforementioned states to storm the Edo State Government House and the Oba of Benin palace to make the state unbearable for you to govern.
“We call on President Buhari to cal Obaseki and the Oba to order before the expiration of the 21 days.
“Enough is enough. We are watching”, they said.
But the State government quickly doused the tension by dialoging with selected Ijaw leaders within and outside the state.
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