The President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Benjamin Okaba, has strongly criticized the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over his recent remark that the Ijaws are a minority ethnic group in Nigeria.
Prof. Okaba, speaking on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Wednesday, dismissed Wike’s comment as reckless, suggesting that the former Rivers State governor often speaks carelessly, sometimes under the influence of alcohol.
“The person you’re talking about (Wike) could say anything under the influence of alcohol and later debunk it; he is a very careless speaker,” Okaba said.
The professor of sociology countered Wike’s claim, stating that the Ijaw people are not a minority but one of the four largest ethnic groups in Nigeria. He emphasized that their population and influence extend beyond land territories into Nigeria’s riverine regions.
“Ijaws are not the fourth largest; they are one of the four largest. Most times, people only consider land mass, but boundaries go beyond land into water spaces. If you count Nigeria’s boundaries into the rivers, you will see that Ijawland extends far beyond what some claim,” he explained.
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Prof. Okaba further asserted that the Ijaws are the most populous ethnic group in the Niger Delta, with indigenous communities spread across six states in Nigeria.
“We are not minorities. In fact, we are the most populous and most indigenous ethnic nationality in the Niger Delta, and that is a fact well known,” he maintained.
Providing historical and demographic evidence, Okaba stated that aside from Bayelsa State, the Ijaw people are indigenous to numerous communities in Abia, Delta, Edo, Ondo, and Rivers States.
“They are in Abia—26 communities in Abia State are indigenous Ijaw people. In Delta State, we have more than four local government areas. Even in Rivers State, we have 10 and a half local government areas, while Ikwerre has only three. Political census figures have been distorted over time, but when a real count is done, the numbers will speak for themselves. Ijaws are also in Ondo and Edo States,” he asserted.
Prof. Okaba accused Wike of deliberately distorting historical and demographic facts for political reasons and urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that his administration’s democratic efforts are not derailed by a single individual.
“We felt that was a deliberate distortion. Wike is nothing outside government, and President Tinubu must not allow one person to destroy his efforts in ensuring democracy thrives in Nigeria,” he stated.
© Ripples Nigeria
