Ijaw Protest, Accuse Ondo Government Of Annexing Land For New Ilaje Council

By Ayodele Oni

As protest over the planned creation of additional Local Governments in Ondo state continues, Ijaws in Ese-Odo Local Council have accused the State Government of annexing and giving their land to another ethnic group.

They have, therefore, issued  a 21-day ultimatum to the State Government to revert the ceding of the portion of land to Irele and Ilaje Local Government Areas to give birth to a new Ilaje dominated Local Councils Development Areas, (LCDA).

A total of 33 LCDAs were created out of the existing 18 local government areas.

The protesting Ijaws were led by their traditional rulers Sunday Amiseghan, the Kalasuwei of Apoi land and Pere Zaccheaus  Egbunu, the Agadagba of Arogbo-Ijaw.

They issued the ultimatum while staging a protest at the  premises of the state House of Assembly, venue of the public hearing on the Bill for the Creation of  LCDAs.

Areas ceded to Ilaje in the proposed LCDA are Okparama 1 and II and Ogidigba, while part of Apoi 4 and 5 were given to Irele Local Government.

Besides, the protesting Ijaws said they want more LCDAs to be created out of Ese-Odo Local Government instead of ceding their land to Ilaje.

The Kalasuwei of Apoi land, in his speech, vowed that they would defend any action leading to the ceding of their ancestral land.

“We are the only non-Yoruba speaking people in Ondo State. We are ready to defend our cultural and traditional identity. We are making our observations regarding the creation of LCDAs. The Ijaws have been marginalized a long time ago in Ondo State.

“We are special people in Ondo State because we have bitumen and abundant oil. We should be given special condition. We demand for more LCDAs in Ese-Odo.

“We will never concede one inch of our land to either Ilaje or Ikale. The Ondo State Government must withdraw that map.”

Pere Egbunu who was represented by Ondo Chairman, Ijaw National Congress, (INC), Bonsuwei Ominidouha, said they would fight against the ceding of their land.

“We are a peace loving people. We are calling on the Ondo State government to stop the nonsense. INC will fight the course to make sure that one inch of our land will not be ceded.

“The whole of Okparama 1 and II and Ogidigba are ceded to Ilaje. Part of Apoi 4 and 5 are ceded to Irele Local Government. We do not want to fight with anybody. It was failure of leadership that led to the Ijaw/Ilaje crisis and we do not want a repeat of that war.”