Leaders of the five Ijaw kingdoms in Edo State have accused the state government of aligning with the Palace of the Oba of Benin to marginalise their communities. They made the allegation during a World Press Conference held on Friday in Gelegele, Ovia North-East Local Government Area.
The kingdoms involved are Egbema, Olodiama, Okomu, Gbaran and Furupagha. President of Ijaw in Edo State, Chief Robinson Ogunkoruwei, read a statement on behalf of 11 other signatories. He stated that Ijaw communities in the state had been subjected to marginalisation and treated as “second-class citizens” in their ancestral lands for decades.
The leaders demanded the creation of three Local Government Development Centres for Ijaw indigenes in Edo State. They also called for the immediate recognition of the traditional rulers of the five kingdoms and the presentation of Staff of Office to them.
They warned that failure to address the issues could escalate inter-ethnic tension. The leaders further referenced a recent statement by the Amanyanabo of Elem Kalabari, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, which they said reflected the deprivation faced by Edo Ijaw.