The Ijaw National Congress (INC), said the 1914 British amalgamation of ethnic nationalities by the British colonialists has since expired.

The congress said in a communiqué at the end of a two-day summit in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State, that it has therefore decided that the Ijaw nation would initiate the process of re-negotiating its co-existence with other nationalities in the country.

The meeting came barely hours after Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s immediate past President, relinquished power on Friday, May 29, 2015 to Muhammadu Buhari, winner of the March 28, 2015 Presidential election.

According to the communiqué issued at the end of the summit, which had as theme: ‘The Ijaw Agenda Beyond 2015,’ made available Monday, “the cession treaties between the Ijaw and British colonial authorities have lapsed and that the instrument of amalgamation of 1914 that produced the country Nigeria expired in 2014.”

Rejecting laws and regulations that deny the Ijaw people control of their resources, the INC expressed regret over the refusal of successive administrations to unite the Ijaws in homogenous states.

The communiqué signed by the INC chairman, Boma Obuoforibo and 30 others, further stressed that “the Ijaw Question predates Nigeria and the current structure of the Nigerian State is lopsided in favour of the majority ethnic nationalities without adequate socio-political and economic space for the minority ethnic nationalities.”

The group agreed at the end of the summit attended by over 1,500 men, women and youths, participated at the summit, that ethnic nationalities in the country “should form the basis of a true Nigerian federation.”

The apex Ijaw socio-cultural body, also condemned the present constitutional and legislative arrangements for resource control and allocation, adding that resource-bearing communities in true federations and the civilised world control their resources.

It noted that in spite of the adverse impact of crude oil and gas exploration and exploitation on Ijaw land, the Federal Government had yet to address the negative effects on health, economy, culture and environment.

INC further argued that the restiveness in the region was the people’s reaction to oppression and frustrations, stressing that the militarisation of the area had resulted in severe erosion of their cherished values as a people.

The summit, however, thanked Nigerians for the support and solidarity they gave the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan even “in the heated ambiance of the 2015 general elections”.

superstar1:
Lol.

Where will the negotiation take place?

Who shall be the facilitator?

How much will attendees be paid again for the jamboree?

Why are they just waking up to the fact that the amalgamation expired in 2014?

Can they make the expired document public?

barcanista:
What they are calling is simply for the convocation of Sovereign National Conference of all ethnic nationalities. Shamefully, successive administration including that of our brother failed tÓ make it happen.

superstar1:


I totally agree with SNC. Like we were telling your brother then that he was organising a national jamboree to have a pedestal to seek for re-election. He was too beclouded with election gimmick for him to see that, he was putting the cart before the horse.

For there to be a truly SNC, the following must happen :

1. We must lobbied for referendum to be passed into our constitution.

2. There should be nothing like "no-go-area" discussion.

3. Representatives of various ethnicities should be elected and not chosen by govt or group.of kangaroo people.

4. The outcome of the SNC must only be ratified by referendum at regional levels.

5. The outcome of the referendum must be binding on all.

barcanista:
I agree with ALL your points. I just don't like remembering the past but the problem is whether this referendum will see the light of day into the constitution.

midolian:

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2015/06/nigerias-1914-amalgamation-expired-says-ijaw-congress/

Berrymoss:
F

great664:
hmm

richidinho:
X

KingEbukasBlog:

Brugo:

naijamark:
R