IJAW VOICE

The threat issued by the Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike to remove the revered Amayanabo of Kalabari over the private visit of the Bayelsa State Governor to the Kingdom is not only an insult to the entire Ijaw nation but also a sacrilege to our sacred traditional institution. The Rivers State Governor has over stepped his bound for daring to insult and ridicule the Ijaw nation in such a despicable manner.

Governor Seriake Dickson as a law abiding citizen of Nigeria is free to move to anywhere in the Country. He does not need to seek permission from anybody including the Rivers State Governor in taken a private visit to his fellow Ijaw people. Similarly, Bayelsa State being the only homogeneous Ijaw State, its Governor is the number one political leader in Ijaw land.

“As a leader of Ijaw nation by reason of his position as the Governor of Bayelsa State, Rt. Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson or any other person occupying that exalted office can visit any Ijaw kingdom or community for the promotion of our oneness as Ijaw people and to build our national cohesion.Recalled that in the course of promoting Ijaw unity, Governor Dickson on assumption of office in 2012 appointed Ijaw people from the six States where Ijaws are Aborigines into his Government. The same trend continues till date. Why will such a person who has been playing leadership role to Ijaw people should not be visiting the Ijaw communities?

The Governor has been paying visits to Ijaw clans in Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Edo and Ondo States. The Governors of these States know that Ijaw people anywhere in the world see the Bayelsa State Governor as a Governor to all Ijaw people.

Governor Wike should not create an unnecessary tension in his State. The Kalabari King did the right thing to have received the Bayelsa State Governor. The revered Amayanabo has not committed any offence to incur Wike’s wrath.

“The Governor should rather apologize to Ijaw people, especially the Kalabari Kingdom for reducing the Clan to such disrepute with his disdainful threat of eviction. The Ijaw nation will not allow her respected traditional institutions to be insulted with such impudence.

Signed:
Pereotubo Oweilaemi, Esq.,
President, IYC Worldwide