The attention of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) Worldwide has been drawn to a publication in News Week Nigeria Online dated January 12, 2025, with the breaking news headline:
“Media Personality Declares Rivers State as the 6th Igbo State.”
The report was attributed to one “General Show,” an Ikwerre by tribe and a self-styled “Media Personality,” who ignorantly declared Rivers State as the “6th Igbo State” in Nigeria. This claim was allegedly based on the fact that a factional Ohanaeze Ndigbo President is from the Ikwerre ethnic group.
Ordinarily, the INC would not have responded to such a report. However, given the potential of such publications to mislead the public and cause ethnic tensions, we find it necessary to respond.
For the benefit of our people and the general public, the INC categorically states that Rivers State cannot be referred to as an Igbo State. The Ijaw population in Rivers State constitutes over 50% of its inhabitants. Furthermore, Rivers State is home to other ethnic nationalities such as the Ogoni, Ekpeye, and Eleme, among others.
While it is true that some individuals within the Ikwerre ethnic nationality trace their origin to the Igbo ethnic group, this does not justify labeling Rivers State as an Igbo State. In fact, there are historians within the Ikwerre community who dispute claims of their ties to the Igbos.
It is illogical to classify Rivers State as an Igbo State simply because a factional Ohanaeze Ndigbo President is from Rivers State.
For the sake of clarity, the presence of Ijaw people in states like Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Abia does not automatically make these states Ijaw States. Similarly, the fact that Prof. Benjamin O. Okaba, the President of the INC, is from Delta State does not render Delta an Ijaw State.
The Ijaw people recognize Bayelsa State as the only Ijaw State, as it is predominantly occupied by the Ijaw ethnic group. This fact is supported by geography, history, and ethnic demographics.
We wish to recall our press release of November 25, 2024, where we warned against any form of encroachment on Ijaw ancestral land. The Ijaw people will not cede an inch of their land to anyone. For those who may not be familiar with history, the Ijaw ethnic group is renowned for its resilience and is known as the only ethnic group in Nigeria that was never conquered by colonialists.
The INC will continue to resist any attempt to annex Ijaw ancestral land. We advise the reading public to disregard misleading claims and remain properly informed.
SIGNED:
Engr. (Chief) Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha
National Publicity Secretary,
Ijaw National Congress (INC) Worldwide
January 14, 2025
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