“Mr President, Don’t Let Wike Destroy Your Efforts” – Prof. Okaba

By Adesina Soyooye

A renowned Professor of Sociology, Benjamin Okaba, has sent an advice to President Bola Tinubu. “Don’t let Wike destroy your efforts at ensuring democracy in Nigeria”, he advised Mr President.

Professor Okaba, who is, also, the President of the Ijaw National Congress, INC, dismissed the former Governor of Rivers State, and now, Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, as nothing outside Government.

Okaba spoke Wednesday morning in response to the recent alleged disparaging  of the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality by Wike, an allegation Wike said was twisted to suit a purpose.

The Minister had, while speaking to Journalists recently relegated the Ijaw to a minority ethnic group in Nigeria.

But speaking on Arise Television Wednesday Morning, Okaba dismissed Wike’s submission as careless and alkeged the Minister could say anything under the influence of alcohol.

Stating the facts straight as it concerns the place of the Ijaw in Nigeria and Wike’s

submission, Professor Okaba said:

“The person (Wike) you’re talking about could say anything under the influence of alcohol and later debunk it. He is a very careless speaker.

“These are basic demographics that are well-known. Ijaws are not the fourth largest; they are one of the four largest.

“Most times, we look at the land mass, the land mass in terms of space cannot exist outside a water space. So the boundaries of the Ijawland, or may be Nigeria beyond land,  it goes into the rivers. So from wherever that is a boundary of Nigeria, all that River spots belong to the Ijawland.

“The Ijaws are the most populous ethnic group in the Niger Delta region, spreading across six states.

“We are not minorities. In fact, we are the most populous and most indigenous ethnic nationality in the Niger Delta. That’s a fact that is well known.

“Ijaws are in six states.

Apart from Bayelsa State, the Ijaws are indigenous to many communities in Abia, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Rivers State.Wike’s comment was a deliberate distortion of fact.

“They are in Abia. 26 communities in Abia State are indigenous Ijaw people. So we felt that was a deliberate distortion. In Delta State, we have more than four Local Government Areas. Even in Rivers State, we have 10 and a half Local Government Areas, and Ikwerre has three. Forget about those who distorted political census figures. When the time comes for real counting, we shall know them. Ijaws are in Ondo State, they are in Edo State”.

Suspended Governor of Rivers State with whom Wike has a huge grouse is Ijaw from Opobo.