Ijaw Ethnicity in Edo state has cried out following an alleged marginalization in the state. The Ijaw lamented that they were excluded from Governor Godwin Obaseki’s cabinet.
The ethnicity complained that in the recent swearing-in of eleven commissioners and two Special Advisers in the state, only two of their members were represented despite their contributions to the development of the state.
In his words: “As we speak, Ijaw man is not in the state House of Assembly; Ijaw man is not in the House of Representatives; Ijaw is not even considered for the chairmanship position in Edo State. I want to state that we are part of the system; we are not strangers, we are aborigines. In the three local government areas, I mentioned earlier, at least if the Ijaw man is not the chairman, he should be the vice-chairman, that is what can be regarded as equity, justice”.
The Ijaw in Edo state is based majorly in the Ovia South-West and Ovia North-East local government areas of Edo State.
While speaking to Journalist, a Zonal representative of the Ijaw, stated that despite their contributions to the political and economic development of the state, they have been left out in the government provides for the people of the state.
“We are not happy as Ijaw people. We are Ijaw people and we have five clans in Edo State namely, Egbema, Olodiama, Gbaraun, Furupagha and Okomu. And all these clans are economically viable. We have contributed economically to the growth of Edo State and not just economically, but politically. Our votes from these five clans in the three local government areas of Ovia South-West, Ovia North-East, and Ikpob-Okha were massive in the 2020 governorship election, but as I speak, there is political marginalization of the Ijaw ethnic group in Edo State”, he lamented.
He also noted that their votes brought in Obaseki as the Governor of Edo state. “Mr. Governor Sir, before your re-election in 2020, you made wide consultations with our leaders like Tompolo, Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa State, our father, Edwin Clark, and many other Ijaw leaders to help talk us to support you, and they did and our people yielded by voting for you massively. Of course, as we always have in politics, some people may have not voted for you but majorly, the Ijaw people’s votes counted for the candidacy of Godwin Obaseki of the PDP and he was declared the winner.”
He also condemned the nonchalant attitude of the death of Mrs. Salome Achejuigu, a former woman leader of the People Democratic Party in Edo State. He stated that Governor Obaseki has never paid a condolence visit to her family since he became the governor of Edo State.
“During the election, we lost a prominent woman who happened to be a major victim of the election, and till today as I speak, not a word of sympathy has come from the governor let alone visiting the family particularly the children she left behind. This is an Ijaw woman who was in support of the PDP and Obaseki till her death”, he reiterated.
