Awakening The ljaw Spirit: A Call to Action Against Political Subjugation_ By Hon. Prince Austin Edumogiren
“We too often bind ourselves by authorities rather than by the truth.” - Lucretia Mott.
Just as bubbles release foul air from the depths of water, ultimately reaching the surface, so too will the truth triumph over authority, regardless of how vehemently it is suppressed. Deceptive narratives may delay the inevitable, but they can never extinguish the essence of reality.
There is no denying that Ijaw Land is the economic lifeblood of Delta State—and, by extension, Nigeria. The vast reserves of oil and gas extracted from our sacred land contribute significantly to the nation’s wealth, resulting in multi-billion-dollar revenues that are distributed to the federating states through the Monthly Federal Allocation Committee, the 13% Derivation, and various other financial instruments. Not surprisingly, Delta receives the largest share, earning Ijaw Land its well-deserved appellation as the "Glory Of All Lands."
Politically, as the second most populous ethnic group in Delta State, the Ijaw people hold substantial sway and will continue to be pivotal in shaping the political landscape.
In Nigeria, politics often resembles a conspiratorial race, where a politician’s clout is directly linked to the resources they can attract for their constituents.
Given this context, it has become abundantly clear that many Ijaw politicians—particularly the leaders and elected officials from 1999 to the present, have exhibited a troubling lack of resolve, often displaying traits of timidity, servility, naiveté, and selfishness in their political dealings.
Instead of diligently fulfilling the duties for which they were elected or appointed, these self-serving individuals resort to cunning tactics and manipulative strategies. They chorus the time-worn and destructive hymn of sycophancy, betraying their fellow Ijaw people in exchange for meager handouts from the wealth overseen by external forces they have come to regard as their superiors. The irony of this scenario is striking!
The underlying dynamics of Ijaw political maneuvering over the decades reveal not just a pattern of behaviour but a psychological battle. The emotions of fear and confidence, coupled with the oscillation between doubt and certainty, serve as a significant backdrop to the reality that political patronage for Ijaw Land and its people remains an elusive dream.
The Delta Ijaws find themselves encircled by political jeopardy, largely facilitated by traitors within their ranks. The political, economic, and infrastructural marginalization they endure poses a grave existential threat to their identity and future.
It is crucial for the Ijaw community to recognize that the various administrations of Delta State—most notably that of Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa and the current Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, who seems merely an extension of Okowa's third term—have exhibited a blatant disregard for Ijaw interests. Their astonishingly indifferent stance reveals a detachment lacking both empathy and responsibility towards our plight. One must ponder how any state in Nigeria can hope to thrive while systematically excluding an entire group from governance?
As the great Martin Luther King Jr. once asserted, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Fear is a neurological response that can compel individuals to either capitulate to adversity or unite against it. The chronic marginalization and dehumanization faced by the Ijaws since the establishment of Delta State in 1991 compel us to seize control of our destiny.
Beloved Ijaws, let us remember that we are the cornerstone of political influence and that our land is the economic heartbeat of Delta State. It is time to awaken from our slumber, to unite as one, and to stand resolute and firm. We must take decisive action for our present and future if we are to survive as a people and restore our rightful place as a beacon of hope within the State.
We must refuse to remain passive and accept the cycle of deception and betrayal that has entangled us in a dance of servitude.
Let this message of liberation resonate deeply within us, particularly among our youth, whose futures are being sacrificed by leaders indifferent to their plight, while successive governments exploit this vulnerability to deny us our inalienable rights.
“A stitch in time saves nine”!
Hon. Prince Edumogiren Augustine writes from Ayakoromo Town in Delta State.
November 30, 2024.
