The Bayelsa State governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, on Friday declared that the Ijaw people of the Niger Delta are the most oppressed ethnic group in the whole country.

Speaking when the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide paid him a visit in his office in Yenagoa, he urged them to continue to put the legitimate issues of economic marginalisation and environmental pollution affecting the region in the spotlight.

Dickson charged the apex Ijaw youth body led by Roland Owelaemi to collaborate with the government in addressing the age-long problems of under-development of the Ijaw nation by successive administrations at the federal level.

According to him, “the Ijaw nation is oppressed in Nigeria, and those of us in positions should fight and protect the Ijaw interest. The weapons and strategy for the struggle must change.

“For 60 years, there is no road to Bonny and Brass, where crude oil is lifted daily. No airport in the Ijaw nation, no oil company operating in the state pays taxes to contribute to the economy.

“The IYC must continue to raise the legitimate issues without fear of intimidation. I expect you to mobilise and raise the consciousness of the people about the precarious situation we are in.”

The governor expressed dismay over the state of the region despite its huge contributions to the economic growth of the country, and called on political leaders and those in positions of trust to protect the collective interest of the Ijaw nation.

He pointed out that 20 years after the creation of Bayelsa State there were no boarding schools and functional hospitals, until his administration came and changed the narrative.

Dickson however warned that the struggle to emancipate the Ijaw nation was no longer about carrying weapons, “but through intellectual and persuasive means”.

He also advised Ijaw youths to shun all forms of vices, including cultism and drug abuse.

Speaking earlier, Oweilaemi urged the Federal government to allow the people of the region to establish and manage the proposed modular refineries in the region, adding that it is one way the people of the region would be compensated for all the degradation they had been subjected to.

He reiterated the 90-day ultimatum given to all oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to relocate their corporate headquarters to the region, in line with the directive of the federal government.

gan gan

IPOND loading....

The word marginalized is only used by elite when they are not in the sharing table.the people marginalizing us are the elite. They use the stark illiterate to lead the protest at the end of the day they benefit from it.every ethnic group in Nigeria has been marginalized by their so called leader.

Billyonaire:
gan gan

IPOND loading....

Jonathan, Deziani, Clark, Tompolo, Asari, Minimah etc collectively ruled this country for six out of the last eight years and they still claimed Ijaws are the most marginalized tribe in Nigeria. What will happen if they are not to be marginalized?

Like I always say, no tribe in Nigeria is marginalized. The real marginalized people are the poor folks across every tribe who gets raped by the corrupt ruling elites that cut across all tribes. Political elites are united by corruption and oppressing the poor when in power but they shout tribal marginalization and religious discrimination when they lose out in the power equation.

seunmsg:
Jonathan, Deziani, Clark, Tompolo, Asari, Minimah etc collectively ruled this country for six out of the past eight years and they still claimed Ijaws are the most marginalized tribe in Nigeria. What will happen if they are not to be marginalized?

Like I always say, no tribe in Nigeria is marginalized. The real marginalized people are the poor folks across every tribe who gets raped by the corrupt ruling elites that cut across all tribes. Political elites are united by corruption and oppressing the poor when in power but they shout tribal marginalization and religious discrimination when they lose out in the power equation.

No mind them. The same Ijaws that were carved out of Rivers state even though they were to become the smallest state by population How many minorities have a state to their name? An Ijaw man has also become the president of Nigeria even where Igbos haven't dared to in recent times. Their allocation is one of the highest in the land more than all the states in the south save for about 4 or 5. Where then is the marginalization. If anyone is marginalizing them, it's their leaders.

[s]

Afam4eva:

No mind them. The same Ijaws that were carve out of Rivers state even though they were to become the smallest state by population How many minorities have a state to their name? An Ijaw man has also become the president of Nigeria even where Igbos haven't dared to in recent times. Their allocation is one of the highest in the land more than all the states in the south save for about 4 or 5. Where then is the marginalization. If anyone is marginalizing them, it's their leaders.

[/s]
At your age you don't know the geographical representation of Ijaw people.... Always envious of Ijaw nation!!! Nonsense

TonyeBarcanista:
[s][/s]
At your age you don't know the geographical representation of Ijaw people.... Always envious of Ijaw nation!!! Nonsense

ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE IJAW WAS NOT CARVED OUT OF RIVER STATE

seunmsg:
Jonathan, Deziani, Clark, Tompolo, Asari, Minimah etc collectively ruled this country for six out of the past eight years and they still claimed Ijaws are the most marginalized tribe in Nigeria. What will happen if they are not to be marginalized?

Like I always say, no tribe in Nigeria is marginalized. The real marginalized people are the poor folks across every tribe who gets raped by the corrupt ruling elites that cut across all tribes. Political elites are united by corruption and oppressing the poor when in power but they shout tribal marginalization and religious discrimination when they lose out in the power equation.

Jonathan, Minimah etc may be Ijaws but they are not personification of Ijaw. They FAILED Ijaw nation by not seeing to addressing the Ijaw needs and demands as encapsulated in the Kaiama declaration of 1998. They only served their selfish interest and contributed to the marginalization of Ijaw nation.

Ijaw is marginalised in this country, this is no thanks to the political system that is currently in place (which our tribesman FAILED to address)

I agree with you with your second paragraph nonetheless

TonyeBarcanista:
[s][/s]
At your age you don't know the geographical representation of Ijaw people.... Always envious of Ijaw nation!!! Nonsense

Yes, i'm envious of Ijaw people because they have benefited immensely from the Nigerian project and should be proud. No sir, they're not marginalized.

seunmsg:
Jonathan, Deziani, Clark, Tompolo, Asari, Minimah etc collectively ruled this country for six out of the past eight years and they still claimed Ijaws are the most marginalized tribe in Nigeria. What will happen if they are not to be marginalized?

Like I always say, no tribe in Nigeria is marginalized. The real marginalized people are the poor folks across every tribe who gets raped by the corrupt ruling elites that cut across all tribes. Political elites are united by corruption and oppressing the poor when in power but they shout tribal marginalization and religious discrimination when they lose out in the power equation.

rafindo:
The word marginalized is only used by elite when they are not in the sharing table.the people marginalizing us are the elite. They use the stark illiterate to lead the protest at the end of the day they benefit from it. every ethnic group in Nigeria has been marginalized by their so called leader.

You guys are right particularly with the bold

Tinubu, Ekweremmadu and Kwankwaso might be running a joint contract right now in abuja and nobody will know

seunmsg:
Jonathan, Deziani, Clark, Tompolo, Asari, Minimah etc collectively ruled this country for six out of the past eight years and they still claimed Ijaws are the most marginalized tribe in Nigeria. What will happen if they are not to be marginalized?

Like I always say, no tribe in Nigeria is marginalized. The real marginalized people are the poor folks across every tribe who gets raped by the corrupt ruling elites that cut across all tribes. Political elites are united by corruption and oppressing the poor when in power but they shout tribal marginalization and religious discrimination when they lose out in the power equation.

You took these words right out of my mind. This is nothing but the whole truth.

There is simply no treatment any tribe in this country has suffered that is unique to them. I could sit back and lament Igedes are the most marginalised in Benue because being the third major ethnic group, we've neither produced the governor or occupied positions such as SSG or Speaker of the House (save for Ogiri Ajine who was Akume's deputy), but who would I be deceiving?

When these fat cats throw up these sentiments, they simply do so for their selfish objectives. They understand then it comes to it, they would be the first to be considered for such plumb jobs and when they get there, they'd represent no one but themselves and their families!

The only marginalisation that has been taking place in this country is that of the elite against the majority of the citizenry.

omenka:
You took these words right out of my mind. This is nothing but the whole truth.

There is simply no treatment any tribe in this country has suffered that is unique to them. I could sit back and lament Igedes are the most marginalised in Benue because being the third major ethnic group, we've neither produced the governor or occupied positions such as SSG or Speaker of the House (save for Ogiri Ajine who was Akume's deputy), but who would I be deceiving?

When these fat cats throw up these sentiments, they simply do so for their selfish objectives. They understand then it comes to it, they would be the first to be considered for such plumb jobs and when they get there, they'd represent no one but themselves and their families!

The only marginalisation that has been taking place in this country is that of the elite against the majority of the citizenry.

So, you're even Igede and you keep insulting your neighbors.

Nnamdi Kanu: A Tale of the Self Destruction of the People’s Hero

By Adeniji, O

Climbing one of the ladders of life to success, the greatest fall of man is tied to his susceptibility to intoxication by fame and power. Undoubtedly, the fame of a British returnee had spread over the east and fast gotten far across Nigeria. His bravery was commended by all and sundry and his charisma beamed a ray of hope to the people; it meant so much to the average Igbo that somehow, the lost voice of the Ndigbo on maginalisation has been finally been revamped. In no just time, he had the support of the masses on his side; he then rode on these supports to further promulgate his agendas for his people which was solely secession, the formation of a country from a country. He was known to be the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

Soon enough, Kanu became power drunk as he rode over the ignorance and gullibility of the people who had entrusted their life into his hands and have iteratively pledged their unalloyed loyalty and allegiance to the battle for the secession of the sovereign state of Biafra. Knowing not any practicable ideology towards a secession from Nigeria, his finest alternative became pitching Nigerians of various ethnic groups against one another through the spread of hate speeches and the setting up of a radio station solely to promulgate hates against the Nigerian state.

Kanu’s arrest became necessary after several threat, slander, libels, felony and treasonable offenses he had committed against the state by calling other majority tribes unprintable names in the quest to cause chaos and to finally attract international observers. He regarded these atrocities as self-determination towards the liberation of his people. His arrest was meant to burn the “zoo”, the name he and his supporters called Nigeria, but that didn’t happen. Although, protests were organised home and abroad but to no avail. He was later released on health grounds after two years to inhale the aura of freedom and instructed that pending the verdict of his case against the federal government in court, he should cease the quest for the division of the country through threat.

Returning to the society of sane people who he had earlier influenced to hate against their supposed enemies, the other tribes of Nigeria, and desperately willing to ignite the dying flames of his fame, he flaunted all bail conditions and stormed the streets threatening fire and brim stone on anyone who dared to caution him on his agitation, after all, he had a large chunk of supporters willing to loss their homes and families in lieu of his own life. At that juncture, leaders across the states were willing to negotiate Nigeria with him only if he would clamp down on the threat and disruption of activities he and the large chunks of supporters have caused the state. Nnamdi kanu was adamant. He was a god of his own self and was never under the instruction of anyone, not even the courts.

His doom was closer and his became destruction imminent when he finally decided to run a parallel government with Nigeria by creating an unprecedented secret service and national guard under the auspices of BSS and BNG respectively. He has declared a vehement relinquishment of the a coming election in Anambra, an order that was meant to be duly enforced by his die hard supporters. All that point, tension was brewing and his next line of action was unpredictable. Hoodlums have hijacked the IPOB organisation and ethnic division was at it peak. Northerner had ordered the exit of their southern guests and southern host had reciprocated in like mannerism by the declaration of war on their non indigenous guests at the lapse of a certain ultimatum. Kanu who possesses dual citizenship of both Nigeria and Britain was on the verge of plunging the country into a crisis and leaders became reluctant to caution the “superman” for political benefits.

His excesses and that of his subjugates needed to be curbed while his doubts cleared by the government. To maintain law and order, the Nigerian Army was commanded to forestall violence. Unfortunately however, the hate speeches the leader of IPOB had spread against the army propelled the instigation of the people against the men on uniform. Arming themselves with stones and bottles, IPOB member sent projectiles of locally sourced weapons against the military to register their displeasure. They however got more than they bargained when force was used to disperse the crowd.

Kanu had earlier adjoined his crowd of supporters to burn down the zoo on his arrest but his people wouldn’t just be patient enough to wait. They burnt government properties and unleashed horror on those who appear to have shared diverse opinions of their ideology. In the bid to restore order, life of humans were lost; all for one man’s recklessness and ill-manners towards others. After his drastic act, Kanu, whose wife and child are breathing the air of safety in the land of the white men has also gone underground while a lot of helpless and hapless Igbo men and women going about their lawful businesses get trapped in a crisis that had no reason for existence if only the application common sense had preceded his actions. That’s exactly what happens when you pair with politicians who are enemies of the state and are aimed at manipulating you for their errant political gains.

The one time hero has suddenly lost the respect from the elites of his society who at worst should be his closest allies for the actualisation of his ideas. The eagle eyes of the world is on the self-destructed hero whose highhandedness coupled with inattentiveness propelled an onslaught against his people. As much as Nigeria’s unity is negotiable, it’s definitely for for sale.


source: https://web.facebook.com/Adeniji-O-1604028209819063/?ref=bookmarks

No one is marginalising Bayelsa jor,
look at their big monthly allocation and small population,then you begin to wonder whats wrong with that state,
leadership wahala,
so mr Dickson,stop making noise.

The talk of marginalization being only between elites and those at the bottom of the economic is not totally true. Definitely that's anther angle of marginalization but there are several other angles that only a person trying to be politically correct will choose not to see.

gbam!!! Izons are most oppressed and exploited in Africa.

Afam4eva:

So, you're even Igede and you keep insulting your neighbors.

Which of my neighbors could that be?

omenka:
Which of my neighbors could that be?

The ones directly under you.

slivertongue:
gbam!!!
Izons are most oppressed and exploited in Africa.

I think i can agree with the emboldened.

Afam4eva:

The ones directly under you.

Well, I've got many immediate neighbors and they include Tivs, Idomas, Igalas, Akpas, Ukeles, Iyalas and Igbos.

I don't think I know which you are referring to.

Afam4eva:

No mind them. The same Ijaws that were carve out of Rivers state even though they were to become the smallest state by population How many minorities have a state to their name? An Ijaw man has also become the president of Nigeria even where Igbos haven't dared to in recent times. Their allocation is one of the highest in the land more than all the states in the south save for about 4 or 5. Where then is the marginalization. If anyone is marginalizing them, it's their leaders.

they own the resources, yet they are the most raped.
over the yrs the nigerian state has used the shadow of the igbos to scare and decieve them from asking questions but these generation of izons aint willing to keep quiet like their forebears. their environment has been completely destroyed, there is manifest absence of critical infrastructure, unemployment rate is high due to deliberate state policy to engander conflict so as to militarize their areas yet we expect them to shout uhuru.


agreed that some Izon leaders have failed to galvanise the people towards purposeful actions, leadership and development but we cant continue to base our argument on these factors. the federal govt have failed the treasure base of the nation and her people.


the FG invested more state resources in lagos,abj, kano, kaduna, old oyo than in the entire niger delta of which Izon areas are the most neglected. so dickson has a point but i guess he speaks of the power dynamics in nigeria which is responsible for the arrested development the nation suffers

A wrong person from ijaw became the president.

He did no tangible project in the east in his six years presidency.

May be he was waiting for an aboki man to come and do their projects for them.

Please don't start. At least not now.

This is a man that is owing workers both at state and local government many months of Salary, allowances and pensions.