Edo/Ijaws: Give peace a chance, Ijaw leaders appeal to Freedom Fighters

•Says FG, State Government, Responding To Their Open Letter

Following the expiration of the 21 days ultimatum to the Executive Governor of Edo state and the Oba of Benin to apologize to the Ijaws for their hate speech which elapsed on Thursday 28th December, 2017, the Ijaw Leaders of Thought in Edo State have called on the Ijaw Freedom Fighters to again give peace a chance.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the group at the end of their general meeting held on Friday 29th December, 2017 at Gelegelegbene in Edo state and made available to GbaramatuVoice.

According to the statement, the group appealed to the Ijaw Freedom Fighters to suspend their intended action because the Ijaws worldwide have waded into the issues raised.

They further explained that the five Ijaw clans, namely; Olodiama, Egbema, Okomu,  Furupagha, and Gbaraun used the occasion of the meeting to call on the Ijaw leaders worldwide to give room for peaceful dialogue with the Federal and State Government who have started taking steps in response to their open letter to Mr. President, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd).

In their words, “We want to use this medium to call on the Edo State Government to always engage true leaders of the Ijaw communities in Edo State and not All Progressives Congress (APC) members of Ijaw extraction and refer to them as Ijaw leaders in the state.”

While appealing to the Freedom Fighters, the Ijaw leaders used the occasion to thank God for his divine mercies and protection for the year 2017 and pray for His grace and blessings for the year 2018 and the year beyond.

Among those who signed the statement includes Rev. (Prof)  C. A. Dime, Chief Macaulay Ayiwe, Chief Robinson Ogunkoru, Engr. Pius Donyegha, Sir (Dr.) B. J. Braie.

Others include; Rev. (Col) Jibor (Rtd), Chief D. K. Agatha (JP), Rev. Seigha Wotu and Chief Joel Aigbekumo