KEY POINTS
- Ijaw leaders demand Nyesom Wike’s suspension over derogatory remarks.
- Ijaw Youth Council calls for unity to fight political marginalization.
- The Ijaw National Congress vows to continue its advocacy for justice.
Ijaw leaders in Rivers State are calling for the suspension of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, following his alleged derogatory remarks against the Ijaw people and the late elder statesman Pa E.K. Clark.
The call was made during a one-day Ijaw National Sensitization Rally held on March 25, 2025, in Bomadi, Delta State.
The rally, under the theme “Stand Up for Ijaw Nation and Pa E.K. Clark,” was organized by the Congress for Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities (CONDEN) and local Ijaw groups.
At the rally, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), criticized Wike’s comments, calling them a direct insult to the Ijaw people.
“We have remained silent for too long. It’s time for the Ijaw to act,” Okaba declared, emphasizing the need to redeem the Ijaw nation’s image.
He also warned that similar rallies would be held in Bayelsa and Rivers states to address the matter further.
Ijaw leaders urge unity and call for justice
Dr. Felix Tuodolo, former president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), also voiced his discontent with Wike’s remarks, especially his claim that the Ijaw people are a “minority of minorities” in the Niger Delta.
Tuodolo refuted this, highlighting that the Ijaw are the fourth-largest ethnic group in Nigeria and the majority in Rivers State, with 10 local governments, compared to Wike’s Ikwerre ethnic group, which has only two.
According to Vanguard, he urged Ijaw leaders to unite to combat political marginalization and ensure fair representation.
Other speakers at the rally, including Nollywood actress Hilda Dokubo and Ijaw Youth Council leaders, echoed similar sentiments, calling for justice for the Ijaw people and urging the federal government to address the grievances of ethnic groups in the Niger Delta.
Representatives from other ethnic groups such as Urhobo, Isoko, and Ndokwa also expressed their solidarity with the Ijaw nation.
Call for a fair response from the government
In a statement signed by Hendrick Opukeme, the Ijaw leaders warned that unless Wike is suspended, the federal government’s stance on justice would appear selective.
The group expressed its commitment to advocating for the rights and dignity of the Ijaw people.
The leadership stressed that the rally was not intended to target any ethnic group but to call for justice and address political inequities.
