INC praises Akeredolu for installing five new Ijaw Kings in Ondo State

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) on Sunday lauded Gov Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state for recognising and installing five additional Ijaw kingship stools within the Arogbo-Ijaw Kingdom in Ese-Odo Local Government Area.

The Ondo state government on Thursday recognised and presented staff of office to the new kings for Ijaw communities in Ondo state.

Prof Benjamin Okaba, President of INC made the commendation in an interview in Yenagoa.

Okaba, who was reacting to the installation of five new kingship stools in Ondo state applauded Akeredolu for his inclusive governance style and even spread of development projects.

According to Okaba, INC, the pan Ijaw socio-cultural and pressure group congratulates the newly installed kings and urged them to keep the Ijaw flag flying by propagating and preserving the revered Ijaw culture in a manner reflective of the multi-ethnic nature of the state.

Okaba noted that Akeredolu has written his name in gold and shown exemplary leadership in recognising and harnessing the ethnic diversity of Ondo state for peaceful coexistence.

 The Ijaw leader observed that the entire Niger Delta region needs such a leadership approach.

“The Ijaw National Congress is very pleased with Gov Rotimi Akeredolu for recognising and elevating five new Ijaw Kingship stools in Ondo and installation of five new Ijaw kings, we express the appreciation of all Ijaws in Nigeria and in the diaspora to the Ondo governor.

“This development has given a sense of belonging to all Ijaws in the Niger Delta region and we feel a sense of duty to express our gratitude to the act of justice and equity to Ijaws.

“We therefore call on Edo and Akwa Ibom state governors to borrow a leaf from Ondo governor and uplift the status of Ijaws in Edo and Akwa Ibom states whose ancestral domains are endowed with oil and gas reserves which provide derivation revenue used to develop other parts of the state, neglecting Ijaw settlements.

“Authoritative historical, archaeological and ethnographic facts have shown beyond reasonable doubts that the Ijaw people are oldest aboriginal settlers in the oil and gas-rich region of the Niger Delta region and must be accorded that respect in States and Local Government Areas they have been arbitrarily balkanized into.

“The INC decries all acts of land grabbing, marginalisation, denial and distortion of the Ijaw cultural heritage under any guise that are ongoing in some states in the region,” Okaba said.