Ijaws in Edo reject list of commissioner-nominees, lament marginalisation, neglect

The Ijaws in Edo state have rejected the recent commissioners nominated in the state by Governor Godwin Obaseki led administration, noting that it will not be accepted by the Ijaws in the state, insisting that the Ijaw people must be included in the commissioners’ list.

The Ijaws lamented of being oppressed, intimidated and permanently neglected in the state by the Government in areas of political appointment, development, and employment, stressing that the Ijaws are occupants in three local government areas in Edo State.

This was revealed in statement released to GbaramatuVoice on Friday and signed by Chief Frank Beke, Ajakurama community, and Comrade Lawoni Dumofaye, Abere community. Affirming that it is heart blowing and a very serious worry to the Ijaws in Edo state.

The statement reads:
“It’s condemnable and resistable by the people of Egbema Ijaws, Olodiama Ijaws, Furopa Ijaws, Okomu Ijaws and Gbaraun Ijaws of Edo state over the recent nomination of Commissioners in Edo State where no any Ijaw man’s name was included. We the Ijaws are occupants in three local government areas in Edo State, namely; Ovia South West, Ovia North East and Ikpoba Oha Local Government Areas.

“And the Ijaws Occupying these three local government areas are populated with an estimate of about Fifteen million Ijaw people and these Ijaws are marginalized , oppressed, intimidated , permanently neglected in the Edo state Government in areas of political appointment, development, and employment.

“There had been no time, the Ijaw men in these three local government areas mentioned above was given a local government chairman because of hatred and oppression from the Edo State government.

“The Ijaw communities in these three local government areas has no government medical centres, no pipe-borne water, no electricity, no good roads, no Government schools.

“The only road project (Udo-Ofunama) that was awarded by NDDC during Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to Egbema Ijaws has been abandoned over the years, more also the Gelegele Sea Port is abandoned because it is located in Olodiama Ijaw land. These are signs of deprivation and oppression to the Ijaw people in Edo State.

“We are saying that the recent commissioners nominated in the state would not be accepted by the Ijaws in Edo state, unless the Ijaw people must be included in the commissioners List . We would not take it, as it’s a clear show of marginalization and oppression to us to the Ijaws in the State,” the statement noted.