For over two decades, the Ijaw people in Delta State have remained politically marginalized, despite their significant contributions to the economic and political landscape of the state. Since the return of democracy in 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dominated the political scene, but Ijaw aspirations for governorship have continually been sidelined. Instead, our leaders, often consumed by personal interests, have allowed themselves to be used as pawns, playing second fiddle to others while failing to prioritize the collective progress of the Ijaw nation. Now, as 2031 approaches, we are once again being fed the same empty promises of producing the next governor—yet the secret agenda of handing power to the Isoko nation in 2031 looms in the shadows. The time has come for us to break free from this cycle of deceit and embrace mainstream politics to assert our rightful place in Delta State.
Decades of Political Deception and Marginalization
Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, Delta State’s political leadership has been systematically structured to exclude the Ijaw people from the governorship position. While the Urhobo, Itsekiri, and Anioma ethnic groups have all had their turns at the helm of state leadership, the Ijaw, despite being one of the major ethnic groups, have been deliberately sidelined. The PDP, which has ruled the state uninterrupted since 1999, has mastered the art of deception, repeatedly dangling the governorship slot before the Ijaw people without any real intention of fulfilling their promises.
The most glaring example of this occurred in the lead-up to the 2023 elections, where the Ijaw people were once again misled into believing that they would be favored for the governorship. Instead, the power brokers maneuvered to install another candidate who did not represent Ijaw interests. Now, as discussions about the 2031 elections begin, the same deceitful tactics are being employed. PDP leaders are whispering promises of an Ijaw governorship, yet secret meetings and political alignments are already being made to ensure that the governorship will shift to the Isoko nation instead. This grand deception is being orchestrated with the support of Ijaw leaders who, instead of fighting for their people, are more interested in personal gains, contracts, and appointments that keep them politically relevant at the expense of their own people’s future.
Ijaw Leaders: Pawns in the Game of Power Politics
The inability of the Ijaw people to produce a governor in Delta State is not solely the fault of external political forces—it is also due to the selfish and sycophantic nature of our leaders. Rather than uniting to push for a common Ijaw agenda, our leaders have become willing tools in the hands of political manipulators. Many of them prioritize personal benefits over the collective good of the Ijaw nation, making deals that only serve their individual ambitions. Instead of standing firm and demanding what rightfully belongs to the Ijaw people, they settle for deputy governorship positions, ministerial appointments, and financial inducements that only perpetuate our political servitude.
This culture of compromise and political servitude has left the Ijaw people fragmented and unable to speak with one voice. Each election cycle, instead of presenting a formidable and united front, our leaders align themselves with different factions, fighting for crumbs while others take the main prize. This is why the political elite in Delta State find it easy to manipulate and sideline us—because they know that Ijaw leaders can always be bought with promises of temporary rewards.
Breaking the Cycle: Embracing Mainstream and National Politics
If the Ijaw people are serious about producing a governor in 2031, we must break away from the politics of deceit and betrayal. We cannot continue to rely on empty promises from PDP power brokers who have no genuine interest in our political advancement. Instead, we must begin to engage in mainstream and national politics, aligning ourselves with political movements and parties that will truly recognize and support our aspirations.
To achieve this, we must:
1. Unite Under a Common Political Agenda – The Ijaw people must put aside personal differences and work towards a common goal. A strategic political blueprint must be developed to ensure that no single Ijaw leader compromises the collective dream of producing a governor in 2031.
2. Build Alliances Beyond Delta State – The reality of Nigerian politics is that power is not just won at the state level. To ensure an Ijaw governor emerges in Delta State, we must build strong alliances at the national level, engaging with political figures and parties that will support our cause.
3. Reject Political Sycophancy – Our leaders must stop selling out the Ijaw agenda for personal gains. The days of accepting deputy positions and financial inducements must come to an end. Any Ijaw leader who compromises our collective interest must be publicly rejected and held accountable.
4. Mobilize Grassroots Support – The people of Ijaw land must be actively involved in this political struggle. We cannot leave our destiny in the hands of politicians alone. Every Ijaw person must understand the importance of this mission and be ready to support it at all levels.
5. Leverage Economic Strength for Political Power – The Ijaw people contribute significantly to the wealth of Delta State, particularly through oil and gas resources. It is time to use this economic strength to negotiate political power. We must demand a fair share of governance based on our contributions to the state’s economy.
Conclusion
The marginalization of the Ijaw people in Delta State is not accidental—it is the result of deliberate political maneuvering, aided by the complicity of our own leaders. If we continue to play the role of second fiddle, we will remain perpetual spectators in the affairs of the state. The promise of an Ijaw governorship in 2031 is yet another deceptive tactic designed to keep us complacent while real plans are being made to hand power to the Isoko nation.
Now is the time to rise and change the narrative. We must reject political servitude and take our rightful place in Delta State’s leadership. By engaging in mainstream and national politics, uniting under a common agenda, and rejecting selfish leaders, we can break the cycle of deceit and make the dream of an Ijaw governor in 2031 a reality. The future of the Ijaw nation depends on the choices we make today—let us not make the mistake of trusting in empty promises once again.
