By: Favour Bibaikefie  – IduwiniVoice 

Prof.: The President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) Global, Professor Benjamin Ogele Okaba has advised the Leadership of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) to dig deeper into the truth of the matter instead of meddling with sensitive issues beyond their jurisdiction. This was made in response to our correspondent who sought to have the opinion of the larger Ijaw nation on the Statement Published on Tuesday Vanguard, by the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), Calling for the Cancilation of the Ongoing Delineation of Warri Federal Constituency.

Good day, Prof., as leader of the Ijaw race,what is your immediate reaction to the call on INEC and President Tinubu to order a discontinuation the ongoing Warri Delineation exercise sir?

Prof.: As you rightly said, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), is the apex socio-cultural organization of the Ijaw Nation, and l must say that we are highly disappointed by that unguarded statement by the OPC, wherein they made spurious and unfounded allegations regarding the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) delineation exercise in Delta state.

In your estimation, does the OPC have any regional jurisdiction on the Warri Delineation Matter, sir?

Prof.: Any Nigerian or non Nigerian could express his or her opinion on any National matter. The Oodua people’s congress, being a South-West regional organization, lacks the moral and constitutional standing to judgmentallyiinterfere in the internal demographic and political issues of the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo people of Delta state in the South-South geopolitical zone as matters involving our communities are deeply rooted in local history and should not be politicalized or mispresented by external bodies.

Thank you Prof., but do you think that INEC has constitutional powers to drop the exercise as contemplated and xonvassed by the OPC?

Prof.: Its an emphatic No, for me. As a matter of fact, INEC is compelled by the Rule of Law in consonance with the unambiguous dictates of the Supreme Court and has so acted within Its constitutional mandate, so far. It must be made abundantly clear that, the ongoing delineation is not done by choice but by compulsion, having been ordered by the Supreme Court, the highest court of the land to do so before the next elections. Moreover, INEC, as empowered by the Nigerian Constitution, is carrying out this delineation exercises based on empirical population demographics and dynamics, administrative demands, and national interest. The insinuation that the Ijaw Nation is pressuring INEC to favour its interests is not only false but deliberately misleading. If anything, the OPC are the ones acting to pressure the INEC to abandon a task, so ordered by the Supreme Court, having been hired by the Itsekiris to speak for them. We must be reminded that INEC would have committed Contempt of Court should it give in to these blackmails and discontinue the exercise.

The OPC raised concerns, rather alleged that the Ijaws are attempting to grab lands belonging to the Urhobos and Itsekiris, how do you react to that, sir.

There’s no case of land seizure. If any, the Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri are lawfully recovering their lands earlier seized by the Itsekiris with the aide of Colonial powers. Let me refer you back to early documents like Treaties, Land Leases, etc. as published by the Ijaw people, and latest Court Judgments upturning the 1920s judgement the Itsekiris are holding unto, in favour of the Urhobos of Warri.

While it is laughable that a man can be accused of seizing or stealing his own land, we vehemently reject the accusation that the ljaw are attempting to “carve out” Itsekiri or Urhobo ancestral lands. Such statements are dangerous and capable of inciting ethnic tension. The Ijaw Nation is peace-loving and respects due process in all matters, including land and boundary matters. The facts are clear for all to see. The INEC visited every community to determine both the ownership and occupants before commencing the delineation exercise after rounds of stakeholders’ meetings. Let’s put this on the table for the purpose of discussion only and not conceding. If Itsekiris truly owned all the lands ljaws live in as bogusly claimed, there need not be any outcry as all those wards they are crying that were given to Ijaws are actually allocated to Itsekiri lands. But their loud cry only shows that they too don’t believe in their claims of land ownership. This only reminds us of the biblical story of King Solomon and the two Harlots who came to him over the ownership of the life baby and the dead one.

Can you take us back a bit on the historical perspectives of this whole matter, sir?

Prof: History must be respected, not distorted. The Ijaw people are the first indigenous people not only to the Warri area or the South-South but to Nigeria. Unless, we want to lie to ourselves that, the Itsekiris are more fishermen than the Ijaws are, our presence, occupation, heritage, and contributions are well documented and can not be erased or challenged by revisionist claims masquerading as regional advocacy.

As a Pan-Ijaw organization, repected for shaping the narrative across the South-South, what is the INC doing to ease tension in Warri right now?

Prof.: The INC remains committed to peaceful coexistence, constructive dialogue, and constitutional means of addressing any tribal concerns among all tribes in the Niger Delta and beyond. We advise all stakeholders to refrain from sensationalism and allow due process to prevail. The Ijaw National Congress will not be silent in the face of provocation and attempts to connive against any legitimate interest and rights of Ijaw people anywhere in the world and will continue to defend the interests, heritage, and dignity of the Ijaw Nation at all levels.

We have advisedly been silent about the issues around Warri redelineation exercise, but will not stand by and watch hired regional advocates and intruders to undermine the sovereignty and constitutional rights of our people. True peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of equity, accountability, and respect for the rights of all. When justice is denied, grievances fester and unity become fragile. Our stance is rooted in the truth of our experiences and the unwavering demand for justice as a foundation for harmony. We believe that it’s only through fairness, true recognition, and equitable treatment that genuine peace and reconciliation be achieved in any society. The facts that, the Ijaws, though being majority in Warri Federal Constituency, has never represented the area in the Federal House Representatives, since independence, majority in Warri-North Local Government, but has neither represented the Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, nor governed the Local Government Area among so many age-long injustices are among the truth around which we must build these conversations and not some shameful observations and instructions handed down by regional hirelings.

Thank you very much, Prof.