he Ijaw Ethnic Nationality is said to be indigenous to the coastal area of modern Nigeria. For more than seven hundred years, the Ijaw traded with and conducted diplomacy with the Europeans. And for much of recorded history, the region has been in a bedlam: the people opposed to marginalization, oppression and exploitation.

In so many ways, not much has changed since the Portuguese and the British first set foot in that part of the world. It was a breadbasket. They traded in palm oil and in various other agricultural resources. The region continues to be a breadbasket with its vast reservoir of oil and gas.

In recent years, especially within the last fifty years, the Ijaw Ethnic Group -- spread over six or more states -- wanted a Mecca, a Jerusalem. They wanted a Home. And so it was that a group of men and women endured sleepless nights and uncertain daylight hours just to actualize an Ijaw Homeland. Their efforts seem wasted now as the younger generation has mostly engaged in local exploitation and marginalization of their own people.

First, a man name Alamieyeseigha came along to make a mess. He spat on his people’s face and showed them his middle finger. His calamitous rule was followed by the rudderless acts of Jonathan Goodluck. As if the people had committed cardinal sins, their gods sent a lackey name Timipre Sylva. In rapid succession, they misappropriated the people’s resources and lay waste their dreams and aspirations.

Alamieyeseigha, Jonathan Goodluck and now Timipre Sylva: three sons of the soil soiled their heritage, made fun of their ancestors, mortgaged the people’s hope, and then went on to steal from posterity.

Not only did Alamieyeseigha and Jonathan Goodluck engage in criminality (as Governors of Bayelsa State), they also asphyxiated a burgeoning democratic culture. What is democracy without a thriving and healthy opposition? What is government without a freely expressed legitimacy conferred upon it by the people?

How do you positively impact people’s lives without a responsive, responsible and transparent government? And how does a society function without a populace that holds its government responsible for its actions and inactions. No society can afford to be timid. No society can afford to be lackadaisical.

Indeed, no society can afford to be indifferent to the actions and pronouncements of its representatives. A society – any society -- that is afraid to caution, counsel and or reprimand its representatives is not only asking to be trampled upon, to be abused and to be used, it is indeed asking for disaster.

In a later date and exposition, I shall return to this theme -- a theme that demands further and careful analysis. The Ijaw, as we shall see, are in a critical stage in their history.

For now, it is the behavior and the pronouncements of the overseas-based Ijaw, the Diaspora Ijaw, which is vexing me -- specifically, those Ijaw who live in the UK, Canada, and the US. The vast majority are “God-fearing,” but there is a group (whose membership is increasing at an alarming rate) that is galling all decent Ijaw men and women.

We have Ijaw organizations that are simply useless, and in some cases, directionless. We have members and leaders within such organizations that have no clue as to their aims and objectives. We have leaders and members who steal and misappropriate public funds; yet, are very vocal when it comes to issues of crimes and corrupt practices in the Niger Delta.

There are Ijaw who, publicly, will abuse and attack and criticize government officials; yet, when government officials visit the United States, Canada or the UK, will be first in line genuflecting, running errands and getting involved in all sorts of duplicity and stupidity: they arrange prostitutes and call-girls for government officials; they help government officials hide money; and help them to export cars, furniture, electronics and other goods.
[b]
Some of these overseas-based Ijaw have no visible means of income other than the “maintenance allowance” they get from governors, ministers, commissioners [/b]and other high ranking public and private officials. They have become the gate-keepers, the treasury-keepers for thieves and rogues and political bastards.

more at

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/sabella-o-abidde/ijaw-in-the-diaspora-their-hypocrisy-is-t-2.html

And so it is that today – especially within the last five years -- a sizeable number of overseas-based Ijaw have been co-opted into looting the state’ treasury. They are silent, when they should speak up. They look the other way, when they should raise alarm over indecent behaviors. They giggle when they should be condemning crimes and transgressions.

While some of the things you said are very correct, I think they are more of the nigerian problem than an Ijaw problem.

Where in Nigeria do we have credible opposition?

how many governors are'nt criminals?

how many critics in this country are really sincere and not just seeking audience to line their pockets?

Is it not in this country that some people are "forming" activity with rebranding by sewing ankara when fake drugs, armed robbery,kidnaping , looting public treasury on large scale actually define us?

@topic

Useless and self centred crook tribe

i guess oni, tinubu,babtope ebenezar, adedibu, gbenga daniel, obj, et al
are all saints right.
pot dey call kettle black

@poster
I just don't see how another tribal bashing helps you or the country. I guess you need to feel better than Ijaws, but are you really better

Almas and Goodluck are the biggest crooks in town . What purpose are they serving their people in their glorified positions

Yoruba-man:

Almas and Goodluck are the biggest crooks in town . What purpose are they serving their people in their glorified positions

If you meant the nigerian town, then I can authoritatively tell you that you are lying, big time.

Hahahahahah! Are you on a revenge mission? Alams and other Ijaw crooks can never be more crooked than the Yoruba crooks. Moreover, Ijaw women do not steal but Yoruba women do: Iyabo, Grange and Etteh are few examples

Ijawman:

Hahahahahah! Are you on a revenge mission? Alams and other Ijaw crooks can never be more crooked than the Yoruba crooks. Moreover, Ijaw women do not steal but Yoruba women do: Iyabo, Grange and Etteh are few examples

what a shame to you and Yoruba man.
no wonder the Hausa people will continue to rule Nigeria.

Fhemmmy:

what a shame to you and Yoruba man.
no wonder the Hausa people will continue to rule Nigeria.

Thank you jare . Gob bless you.

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Ijawman and naijaking-

You fools are part of the hypocrisy.

den say fire dey burn you but you say you no go kill the fire because fire dey burn yoruba people too. what a  dumb ass way of reasoning,

Who's land is bleeped up?

babapupa:

Ijawman and naijaking-

You fools are part of the hypocrisy.

den say fire dey burn you but you say you no go kill the fire because fire dey burn yoruba people too. what a dumb ass way of reasoning,

Who's land is bleeped up?

Mr. childish foul mouth, I'm still waiting for you to offer any solution

Ode, answer my question,

Who's land is bleeped up?

Misguided dolts,


Why not start with

Responsibility

Accountability

Good governance

Love of people and the Land


-Instead of pimping your own people, extorting your own people, diverting your people's resources and blowing up innocent people.