Urhobo people. (a.k.a) The comedians of Nigeria.

One thing I like about them is their food. They just know how to cook.

Logan23:



Opobo is igbo...

No kee urself because of it.

Ijaws like claiming people and people's land. Whatever they see in Bayelsa state, southern parts of Delta, Rivers, and Edo including the riverine areas of Ondo and Akwa ibom states even when they are speaking different languages with them is ijaw.

How can you say people who speak language different from yours but same with another is your people? Ijaws are the real land grabbers in the south and whenever you attempt to tell them that these people are your people they term you land grabbers, people who went as far as claiming Ndoki, Opobo and Bonny in Rivers State, Ekpeye and Ogba in Rivers and Bayelsa states.

This their attitude is the reason why they are hostile with their neighbors. They have fought with the itsekiri, Urhobo, Ikwerre and Ilaje people of Ondo state, they have attempted and threatened Edo people with war. They use oil deposit, rivers and state boundary as yardsticks for determining their Ijaw ethnicity.

Any Urhobo, Igbo, Benin or Yoruba town or land surrounded by Rivers with oil deposits is assumed by them to be Ijaw land.

B2mario:


Ijaws like claiming people and people's land. Whatever they see in Bayelsa state, southern parts of Delta, Rivers, and Edo including the riverine areas of Ondo and Akwa ibom states even when they are speaking different languages with them is ijaw.

How can you say people who speak language different from yours but same with another is your people? Ijaws are the real land grabbers in the south and whenever you attempt to tell them that these people are your people they term you land grabbers, people who went as far as claiming Ndoki, Opobo and Bonny in Rivers State, Ekpeye and Ogba in Rivers and Bayelsa states.

This their attitude is the reason why they are hostile with their neighbors. They have fought with the itsekiri, Urhobo, Ikwerre and Ilaje people of Ondo state, they have attempted and threatened Edo people with war. They use oil deposit, rivers and state boundary as yardsticks for determining their Ijaw ethnicity.

Any Urhobo, Igbo, Benin or Yoruba town or land surrounded by Rivers with oil deposits is assumed by them to be Ijaw land.

ijawcitizen needs to see this

midasbliss:
Lol. Ofoni Don enter Nl. Op are u one Of Us?
People find it hard to blive me when i say im urhobo nd bayelsan,
i get tired of explaining myself, annoying part is, they never believe me...

There are igbos too in Bayelsa state

Bayelsa no be one tribe

iyazkelly:
My name is Genesis Kelly Tobore, am an indigene of Ofoni Community. Its a blessed town with lots of opportunities yet unexplored and hopefully someday we will maximize these opportunities. 07069513011 chat me up if you are from Ofoni and it will be nice to get to know you. Thank you

Is ofoni ijaw or urhobo?

Logan23:


Is ofoni ijaw or urhobo?

Ofoni is the only urhobo community in Sagbama. They are urhobos

sageb:
Ofoni is the only urhobo community in Sagbama. They are urhobos

Tnx a lot.

Logan23:


Tnx a lot.

we (the Ijaws) are hospitable and accommodating. The deputy governor of Bayelsa is an urhobo man.

sageb:
we (the Ijaws) are hospitable and accommodating. The deputy governor of Bayelsa is an urhobo man.

Urhobo are indigens to Bayelsa state....So why not

B2mario:


Ijaws like claiming people and people's land. Whatever they see in Bayelsa state, southern parts of Delta, Rivers, and Edo including the riverine areas of Ondo and Akwa ibom states even when they are speaking different languages with them is ijaw.

How can you say people who speak language different from yours but same with another is your people? Ijaws are the real land grabbers in the south and whenever you attempt to tell them that these people are your people they term you land grabbers, people who went as far as claiming Ndoki, Opobo and Bonny in Rivers State, Ekpeye and Ogba in Rivers and Bayelsa states.

This their attitude is the reason why they are hostile with their neighbors. They have fought with the itsekiri, Urhobo, Ikwerre and Ilaje people of Ondo state, they have attempted and threatened Edo people with war. They use oil deposit, rivers and state boundary as yardsticks for determining their Ijaw ethnicity.

Any Urhobo, Igbo, Benin or Yoruba town or land surrounded by Rivers with oil deposits is assumed by them to be Ijaw land.

lol..I would have loved to educate you but I don't have strength. FYI Ijaw doesn't claim Ekpeye and Ogba. I've never heard of that but I know Bonny , Opobo , Kalabari and Okirika are proud members of IYC.

Sinistami:



lol..I would have loved to educate you but I don't have strength. FYI Ijaw doesn't claim Ekpeye and Ogba. I've never heard of that but I know Bonny , Opobo , Kalabari and Okirika are proud members of IYC.

Lol, Opobo and Bonny, Igbos proud members of IYC? Maybe it's those ones you were able to brainwashed that if they accept their Igbo identity other Nigerians will kill them or will not give them job.

B2mario:


Lol, Opobo and Bonny, Igbos proud members of IYC? Maybe it's those ones you were able to brainwashed that if they accept their Igbo identity other Nigerians will kill them or will not give them job.

We didn't brainwash anybody guy. They all chose to be called Ijaw by themselves, nobody forced them. Blood knows blood. I admit there are igbo elements in their culture and language but you know those two stuffs are actually very dynamic. None of us here are one tribe genetically. My grandmother is Igbo , my great grandfather is Creole but I identify as Ijaw because I and my people choose too.

When did Ijaw even get the means to brainwash people sef.

Sinistami:


We didn't brainwash anybody guy. They all chose to be called Ijaw by themselves, nobody forced them. Blood knows blood. I admit there are igbo elements in their culture and language but you know those two stuffs are actually very dynamic. None of us here are one tribe genetically. My grandmother is Igbo , my great grandfather is Creole but I identify as Ijaw because I and my people choose too.

When did Ijaw even get the means to brainwash people sef.

Story for the gods. In the old Rivers State when ijaws were holding power, did they give work/job to anybody bearing Igbo name?

How was Ikwerre and other Igbo groups in Rivers State treated? The attitude of ijaws and maltreatment of Igbos from Igbo clans in the old Rivers state by the ijaws catalysed the Igbo identity denial. Don't come here and tell us rubbish, nobody is a child here.

In the early 1990s I was living in portharcourt with my parents.

B2mario:


Story for the gods. In the old Rivers State when ijaws were holding power, did they give work/job to anybody bearing Igbo name?

How was Ikwerre and other Igbo groups in Rivers State treated? The attitude of ijaws and maltreatment of you Igbo clans in the old Rivers state by the ijaws catalysed the Igbo identity denial. Don't come here and tell us rubbish, nobody is a child here.

In the early 1990s I was living in portharcourt with my parents.

lol... I see your pessimism won't end so I rest my case.

Sinistami:



lol... I see your pessimism won't end so I rest my case.

Ok, good for you. Was it not an Ijaw man as a governor that changed many Igbo community names to something that is meaningless in Igbo language (e.g Obigbo to Oyigbo) inorder to claim that Igbo has no foot in Rivers State. Thank God that today everything is backfiring.

B2mario:


Ok, good for you. Was it not an Ijaw man as a governor that changed many Igbo community names to something that is meaningless in Igbo language (e.g Obigbo to Oyigbo) inorder to claim that Igbo has no foot in Rivers State. Thank God that today everything is backfiring.

Well my own is that, every ethnic group has done one thing or the other that wasn't good. Igbos too aren't excluded so stop acting like you're the only victim. Everybody here is a victim.

Sinistami:


Well my own is that, every ethnic group has done one thing or the other that wasn't good. Igbos too aren't excluded so stop acting like you're the only victim. Everybody here is a victim.

I've never claimed that Igbo is saint. I'm just saying the fact. Ijaws made many mistakes in the past ranging from betraying the Biafran soldiers in their land to protect them, the abandon property saga to the exclusion of indigenous Igbos in Rivers state in Rivers state politics and encouraging the Igbo identity denial.

B2mario:
I've never claimed that Igbo is saint. I'm just saying the fact. Ijaws made many mistakes in the past ranging from betraying the Biafran soldiers in their land to protect them, the abandon property saga to the exclusion of indigenous Igbos in Rivers state in Rivers state politics and encouraging the Igbo identity denial.

The only area I see we did wrong here was the abandoned property saga. Is it fair that Adaka Boro who had first declared a Niger Delta republic was captured , stripped and thrown in jail by Ojukwu and Ironsi awaiting murder while your eastern brothers that had just committed a coup were just there being treated as heroes and awaiting trial then boom when things back fired Ojukwu declared a Republic of Biafra still comprising of same land Boro fought for without giving him an apology so when the Nigerian government pardoned him what did you expect he'd do?

And do you know how your Biafra Soldiers were maltreating the Ijaw locals? What did you expect? When your men were threatening them with dealing with them later after they were done with Nigeria. Was that right? I heard all these from my father who is half Igbo , well it's Ikwere but I see them as Igbo any day any time.

Sinistami:


The only area I see we did wrong here was the abandoned property saga. Is it fair that Adaka Boro who had first declared a Niger Delta republic was captured , stripped and thrown in jail by Ojukwu and Ironsi awaiting murder while your eastern brothers that had just committed a coup were just there being treated as heroes and awaiting trial then boom when things back fired Ojukwu declared a Republic of Biafra still comprising of same land Boro fought for without giving him an apology so when the Nigerian government pardoned him what did you expect he'd do?

And do you know how your Biafra Soldiers were maltreating the Ijaw locals? What did you expect? When your men were threatening them with dealing with them later after they were done with Nigeria. Was that right? I heard all these from my father who is half Igbo , well it's Ikwere but I see them as Igbo any day any time.

Oga thanks very much for acknowledging one area. Point of correction, the 1st coup was not plotted by the Igbos. Infact, the coup and the reprisal took the Igbos unaware. It was planned and nurtured by the west and supporters of Awolowo. And was carried out by four majors, two Igbos of Anioma origin and two Yorubas and many of the foot soldiers were from the north especially from the areas around Benue state. But the reprisal was visited on the east which every tribe in the east felt the repercussions not only the Igbos including your Ijaws.

Adaka Boro case is totally different. He was not the only person from eastern region that fought against Biafra. At least his stand and so many others were known compared to other Ijaw leaders who pledged allegiance to Biafra, even suggested the name of the new republic but later betrayed the course. They were duely consulted and they did not make their intentions known to the leaders of the republic.

You and I know that you can not satisfy the ijaws. Today has the struggle ended, what is their relationship with their neighbors, what is their status in Rivers and Delta states where they are the second majority? How are they treating the minorities in Bayelsa, or are they still maintaining that there's no other tribe in Bayelsa except ijaw?

And mind you, the Niger Delta republic of Adaka Boro was the old Niger Delta of the past that comprised of only the typical Ijaw land of Bayelsa state where the Niger has its foot. It did not include the Ogonis, Urhobo, Ikwerre/Igbo, itsekiri, Annang, Ibibio, Efik, Yoruba of Ondo and the Edos. Today Niger Delta was created by Obasanjo which includes as far lands as Cross river, Edo, Ondo, Imo, Abia and Akwa ibom which is in no way related to anything delta. The original Niger Delta is found in the general area of Bayelsa, southern areas of Delta and Rivers states.

Today Niger Delta was created as a region to cater for oil producing areas, so Ijaws should stop seeing Niger Delta as the own alone. Yes, the name was adopted from the location of the ijaws but Niger Delta affair is the corporation affair of the constituent ethnic groups. Infact, in the Niger Delta of today, Igbo is the single largest ethnic group. They are the majority in Abia, Imo and Rivers states, 2nd or 3rd majority in Delta State, and have minority population in Akwa ibom, Bayelsa, Cross river, and Edo state.

In conclusion, I must commend your maturity in this debate. But try and read more. So many things and circumstances behind the 1st and 2nd coups were hidden. I think Obasanjo and Babangida still have some secrets to tell us. So many people's names were shed in 1st coup so as to get majority to fight against the Igbos and the east.

Nigerian govt released Adaka Boro he fought against Biafra and Biafran govt released Awolowo he still fought against Biafra.

B2mario:


Oga thanks very much for acknowledging one area. Point of correction, the 1st coup was not plotted by the Igbos. Infact, the coup and the reprisal took the Igbos unaware. It was planned and nurtured by the west and supporters of Awolowo. And was carried out by four majors, two Igbos of Anioma origin and two Yorubas and many of the foot soldiers were from the north especially from the areas around Benue state. But the reprisal was visited on the east which every tribe in the east felt the repercussions not only the Igbos including your Ijaws.

Adaka Boro case is totally different. He was not the only person from eastern region that fought against Biafra. At least his stand and so many others were known compared to other Ijaw leaders who pledged allegiance to Biafra, even suggested the name of the new republic but later betrayed the course. They were duely consulted and they did not make their intentions known to the leaders of the republic.

You and I know that you can not satisfy the ijaws. Today has the struggle ended, what is their relationship with their neighbors, what is their status in Rivers and Delta states where they are the second majority? How are they treating the minorities in Bayelsa, or are they still maintaining that there's no other tribe in Bayelsa except ijaw?

And mind you, the Niger Delta republic of Adaka Boro was the old Niger Delta of the past that comprised of only the typical Ijaw land of Bayelsa state where the Niger has its foot. It did not include the Ogonis, Urhobo, Ikwerre/Igbo, itsekiri, Annang, Ibibio, Efik, Yoruba of Ondo and the Edos. Today Niger Delta was created by Obasanjo which includes as far lands as Cross river, Edo, Ondo, Imo, Abia and Akwa ibom which is in no way related to anything delta. The original Niger Delta is found in the general area of Bayelsa, southern areas of Delta and Rivers states.

Today Niger Delta was created as a region to cater for oil producing areas, so Ijaws should stop seeing Niger Delta as the own alone. Yes, the name was adopted from the location of the ijaws but Niger Delta affair is the corporation affair of the constituent ethnic groups. Infact, in the Niger Delta of today, Igbo is the single largest ethnic group. They are the majority in Abia, Imo and Rivers states, 2nd or 3rd majority in Delta State, and have minority population in Akwa ibom, Bayelsa, Cross river, and Edo state.

In conclusion, I must commend your maturity in this debate. But try and read more. So many things and circumstances behind the 1st and 2nd coups were hidden. I think Obasanjo and Babangida still have some secrets to tell us. So many people's names were shed in 1st coup so as to get majority to fight against the Igbos and the east.

Nigerian govt released Adaka Boro he fought against Biafra and Biafran govt released Awolowo he still fought against Biafra.

First of all I know that the Nigerdelta as geographical location is different from the political entity of the same name. I know Boro fought for the geographical location.

Secondly , thank you for clearing the part about the civil war up. But can you at least give me names of the Ijaw leaders that betrayed the Biafra struggle.

Thirdly humanity as a whole cannot be satisfied. I'm not part of the minority in Bayelsa apart from being part of the Epie Atissa in Yenagoa which so I can't really say how minorities are treated. I can only see it from a superficial angle since I see them getting jobs and all and our deputy governor is an Urhobo man.

And again tell me why you think the Ijaw is taking the Nigerdelta as only theirs.

Sinistami:



First of all I know that the Nigerdelta as geographical location is different from the political entity of the same name. I know Boro fought for the geographical location.

Secondly , thank you for clearing the part about the civil war up. But can you at least give me names of the Ijaw leaders that betrayed the Biafra struggle.

Thirdly humanity as a whole cannot be satisfied. I'm not part of the minority in Bayelsa apart from being part of the Epie Atissa in Yenagoa which so I can't really say how minorities are treated. I can only see it from a superficial angle since I see them getting jobs and all and our deputy governor is an Urhobo man.

And again tell me why you think the Ijaw is taking the Nigerdelta as only theirs.

I can see the wisdom in you but I will recommend you to read more. Ijaws in many occasions, even recently, have claimed Niger Delta as their sole affair and demanded that federal government should remove typical Igbo states of Abia and Imo and the Yoruba state of Ondo so as to make Niger Delta an affair for the southern ethnic minorities. Today, Niger Delta is a political entity and not the initial geographical location of the Ijaws. If ijaws want Niger Delta republic, I bet you, the Igbos will fully support them as they supported Goodluck Jonathan as long as they will not lay claim on portharcourt, Ekpeye, Ogba, Ndoki, Etche, Opobo and Bonny.

You demanded for the names of the Ijaw leaders that betrayed Biafra. Brother, every contemporary student of history knows this. They gave federal government information about the location of Biafran army base in Ijawland and other parts of old Rivers province and when the federal government took over, the ijaws were even the ones killing Biafran soldiers, Igbos and their own Ijaw brothers and sisters who they believed were stunch Biafran supporters. When Spiff took over the government of Rivers state his actions demonstrated something similar to this.

Brother, forget about humanity, ijaws are very problematic and hostile. Are you sure you have interacted with your brothers before?. You hardly satisfy them. They don't like hearing the truth, they only like to hear what they want to hear. In the early 90s stay in portharcourt or any part of Rivers state and tell an Ijaw man that there's an indigenous Igbo in Rivers state, he can stab you to death.

I must confess that I enjoy the sincerity and pragmatism demonstrated by You. You are one of the 1st Ijaws I see accepting the fact that there are other ethnic tribes apart from Ijaws in Bayelsa even going as far as telling us here that the deputy governor of Bayelsa state is an Urhobo man. Hmmmm, I'm very happy to hear this. It means that Ijaws are changing. Ijaws I know before are good at claiming other people and people's land as long as it's located in an area close or around the creek.

B2mario:


I can see the wisdom in you but I will recommend you to read more. Ijaws in many occasions, even recently, have claimed Niger Delta as their sole affair and demanded that federal government should remove typical Igbo states of Abia and Imo and the Yoruba state of Ondo so as to make Niger Delta an affair for the southern ethnic minorities. Today, Niger Delta is a political entity and not the initial geographical location of the Ijaws. If ijaws want Niger Delta republic, I bet you, the Igbos will fully support them as they supported Goodluck Jonathan as long as they will not lay claim on portharcourt, Ekpeye, Ogba, Ndoki, Etche, Opobo and Bonny.

You demanded for the names of the Ijaw leaders that betrayed Biafra. Brother, every contemporary student of history knows this. They gave federal government information about the location of Biafran army base in Ijawland and other parts of old Rivers province and when the federal government took over, the ijaws were even the ones killing Biafran soldiers, Igbos and their own Ijaw brothers and sisters who they believed were stunch Biafran supporters. When Spiff took over the government of Rivers state his actions demonstrated something similar to this.

Brother, forget about humanity, ijaws are very problematic and hostile. Are you sure you have interacted with your brothers before?. You hardly satisfy them. They don't like hearing the truth, they only like to hear what they want to hear. In the early 90s stay in portharcourt or any part of Rivers state and tell an Ijaw man that there's an indigenous Igbo in Rivers state, he can stab you to death.

I must confess that I enjoy the sincerity and pragmatism demonstrated by You. You are one of the 1st Ijaws I see accepting the fact that there are other ethnic tribes apart from Ijaws in Bayelsa even going as far as telling us here that the deputy governor of Bayelsa state is an Urhobo man. Hmmmm, I'm very happy to hear this. It means that Ijaws are changing. Ijaws I know before are good at claiming other people and people's land as long as it's located in an area close or around the creek.

I haven't seen anyone of us claiming Ekpeye and other typical Igboid groups in Rivers though. But as for Opobo and Bonny I know that we do so because of the strong Ijaw elements in those people like their names and traditional titles as well as history.

I must confess I'm actually 21 so I don't exactly know what happened in Rivers in the 90s. I'm a youth and I don't intend playing the tribal card and say half truths just to please ethnic brothers. I grew up hearing my Dad speak Igbo all the time to the point that I started thinking he was. My Dad is half Igbo , my grandma was igbo (Ikwerre) and truth be told a vast majority of Ijaws in Bayelsa and Rivers share this same circumstances with either one or two of our grandparents being Igbo. I say things as I see it, we've been bleeped up a lot by tribalism so I really don't see my self lying to anyone for tribal benefits.

Well thanks for this debate. I learnt some new things. Abd please there are a lot more other ijaws like me.

Sinistami:



I haven't seen anyone of us claiming Ekpeye and other typical Igboid groups in Rivers though. But as for Opobo and Bonny I know that we do so because of the strong Ijaw elements in those people like their names and traditional titles as well as history.

I must confess I'm actually 21 so I don't exactly know what happened in Rivers in the 90s. I'm a youth and I don't intend playing the tribal card and say half truths just to please ethnic brothers. I grew up hearing my Dad speak Igbo all the time to the point that I started thinking he was. My Dad is half Igbo , my grandma was igbo (Ikwerre) and truth be told a vast majority of Ijaws in Bayelsa and Rivers share this same circumstances with either one or two of our grandparents being Igbo. I say things as I see it, we've been bleeped up a lot by tribalism so I really don't see my self lying to anyone for tribal benefits.

Well thanks for this debate. I learnt some new things. Abd please there are a lot more other ijaws like me.

You are very young by your age but still an adult. So I will like you to read about the Riverine/upland dichotomy of old Rivers state politics; what led to it; the actions of Saro Wiwa and Sen. Obi wali in savaging the suffering of non-ijaw people in Rivers state; the assassination of sen. Obi Wali and the execution of the Ogoni 9; the statement of Saro Wiwa about Ogoni treatment in Rivers state by the Ijaw people; agitation for the creation of portharcourt state and new Rivers state; what led to the creation of Bayelsa state; the involvement of Igbos of southeast and so on.

I will get back to you.

H

B2mario:


You are very young by your age but still an adult. So I will like you to read about the Riverine/upland dichotomy of old Rivers state politics; what led to it; the actions of Saro Wiwa and Sen. Obi wali in savaging the suffering of non-ijaw people in Rivers state; the assassination of sen. Obi Wali and the execution of the Ogoni 9; the statement of Saro Wiwa about Ogoni treatment in Rivers state by the Ijaw people; agitation for the creation of portharcourt state and new Rivers state; what led to the creation of Bayelsa state; the involvement of Igbos of southeast and so on.

I will get back to you.

hmmm can you give me links to where I'd find these?

Sinistami:


hmmm can you give me links to where I'd find these?

Ok

http://plannerladyreality.com/gbu0me7x?srwcms=64&refer=https%3A%2F%2Friversijawvoice.com.ng%2F2018%2F08%2F22%2Fobi-wali-and-ken-saro-wiwa-created-the-upland-riverine-dichotomy%2F&kw=%5B%22obi%22%2C%22wali%22%2C%22and%22%2C%22ken%22%2C%22saro-wiwa%22%2C%22created%22%2C%22the%22%2C%22upland%22%2C%22riverine%22%2C%22dichotomy%22%2C%22-%22%2C%22rivers%22%2C%22ijaw%22%2C%22voice%22%5D&key=e2897ab4f85e4238f9b7bc3b9e3e36e7&scrWidth=320&scrHeight=640&tz=1&v=20.7.v.1&res=7.229&dev=r&uuid=88bf2e0a-5df3-477b-b3f2-7090b82ad369%3A3%3A1&adb=n

Obi Wali and Ken Saro-Wiwa Created the Upland/Riverine Dichotomy
23
0 Sotonye Ijuye-Dagogo August 22, 2018 4:19 pm
Obi Wali and Ken Saro-Wiwa Created the Upland/Riverine Dichotomy

Introduction: There have been efforts by selfish and deceitful politicians to distort history and becloud the minds of young and/or uninformed member

Introduction:

There have been efforts by selfish and deceitful politicians to distort history and becloud the minds of young and/or uninformed members of the populace about the term upland/riverine dichotomy; its origin; its purpose and its implementation.

More than 60% of the people that constitute the current Rivers State population were born after the creation of Rivers State in 1967 and may not be quite aware of the history behind the upland/riverine dichotomy. Unfortunately, history is no more taught as a subject in our secondary schools.

In the beginning, there was nothing like dichotomy in the nomenclature of Rivers State and our people lived in one united entity. This was corroborated by Chief A.K. Horsfall, the Sekuro I of Kalabri, when he said, that “during the struggle for the creation of Rivers State, all the debates and discussions centered around a united and all-inclusive Rivers State, it was not a Rivers State of Riverine and Upland; not a Rivers State of Ogoni, Kalabari, Ikwerre or whatever. The Rivers State that our founding fathers dreamt of, was a united and strong entity of a group of people sharing one political vision, cultural background etc. Unfortunately, that is not the situation today”.

After the creation of Rivers State in 1967 and especially after the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-1970, Rivers people lived largely in unity and harmony. This was due to their long history of interaction and coexistence which was strengthened by the common struggle against oppression and marginalization. This peaceful atmosphere engendered the rapid development of the state capital, Port Harcourt under the military administration of Navy Commander Alfred Diete-Spiff.

This harmony was shattered during the twilight of Governor Diete-Spiff’s administration when he reshuffled his cabinet and dropped seven Commissioners. Incidentally the dropped Commissioners were from the Mainland section of the state, including Dr. Obi Wali and Ken Saro Wiwa of blessed memory. These Commissioners ganged up and fought back vigorously, claiming victimization and marginalization against what they called the “Upland” section of the state. This gave birth to the concept of Upland and Riverine segregation and led to the agitation for the creation of a Port Harcourt State.

Upland political leaders created the dichotomy

Documented evidence supports the fact that upland political leaders led by the late Dr. Obi Wali and the late Ken Saro-Wiwa used the Upland/Riverine divide as a defining terminology to describe the Ijaws and their Mainland co-indigenes in the old Rivers State. They used this definitive terminology as a campaign tool against the perceived domination of the upland by the riverine-Ijaws in the affairs of the old Rivers State. It was a concept coined out of protest.

Ken Saro Wiwa said this much when he wrote that:

“With the war ended, and as a Commissioner in Rivers State, I soon found that the Rivers State for which I had fought did not end my nightmare. In the first place, oil money from Ogoni country (as well as Ijaw country) was being carted away to Lagos, leaving the Ogoni illiterate and backward. This is anti-federalism.


Ken Saro-Wiwa, agitated against Ijaw domination barely four years after the creation of Rivers State

“Worse still, the Ijaws were taking their frustrations out on the non-Ijaws of the State. For the Ijaws alone number more than the eight other ethnic groups in Rivers State put together. Though historically disunited, the Ijaws find unity when it comes to lording if over the non-Ijaws. The Ijaws will want to perpetuate this. Today, there is not even a Commissioner from my Local Government Area in the Rivers State Cabinet. My dilemma as an Ogoni is not about to end.

“Lost in this dreadful nightmare, I went in 1971 to see Chief Awolowo at the Federal Ministry of Finance. There was nothing I told the sage that he was not aware of. He showed me his writings on the issue and bade me seek the mid-Southern State he had proposed in 1966. Thus, was the quest for a Port Harcourt State begun. In 1974, when we started, there was no shortage of opponents. To the Ijaws, I became a traitor. The creation of this State would alleviate my nightmare”.

It is noteworthy that this complaint by Ken Saro Wiwa in 1971 was made barely four years after the creation of Rivers State in 1967; and Governor Diette-Spiff had only relocated from Lagos to Port Harcourt in 1968 to establish a government in which Ken Saro Wiwa was a Commissioner after he had served as the Administrator of Bonny.

Another documented evidence is Ochereome Nnanna’s article ‘Rebisi in history’ in which he said that:

“When the civil war started in 1967 and Biafra lost control of Port Harcourt to the Federal forces, the newly created Rivers State was handed over to the Ijaw. Ijaw leaders continued to maintain that Rivers State, with Port Harcourt as its capital, was created for them as reward for ceding their coastal terrain to the Federal side, thus making the sea blockade of Biafra possible. The Ijaw groups claimed to constitute the majority and continued to dominate the state both during military and civilian dispensations. With time, however, the Igbo speaking people of the state, particularly the Ikwerre nationality, decided they wanted a state of their own where they would be able to assert their own political and economic interests. This was what led to the quest for the creation of Port Harcourt State”.


Dr. Obi Wali agitated for a Port Harcourt State

Again it is noteworthy that an Ikwerre political leader, Dr. Obi Wali was at the forefront for the agitation of Port Harcourt State, protesting the perceived domination of the upland by the Ijaws.

Consequent upon the crisis created by the agitation for a Port Harcourt State and the disunity it was causing among the people, the political leadership at the time, came up with the principle of rotation based on the upland/riverine dichotomy to ensure equity and harmonious co-existence amongst the Upland and Riverine (Ijaw) people of old Rivers State. This was the advent of a deliberate sharing formula for major elective and appointive positions among the Upland and Riverine people of the state.

For example, when a Riverine (Ijaw) man is governor, the deputy is chosen from the Upland and vice versa. The office of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Secretary to Government, Head of Service etc. rotate between the Upland and the Riverine (Ijaw).

Now that Ikwerre domination has replaced Ijaw domination, they say that upland/riverine dichotomy should be abrogated and in fact never existed

Since 1999 and especially when Ikwerre assumed political dominance in 2007, there have been concerted efforts to abrogate the upland/riverine dichotomy which was created as a result of the outcry of the upland and implemented by the founding fathers as a veritable mechanism for inclusiveness and stability in a multi-ethnic Rivers State. The upland has used the benefits of the dichotomy to achieve its goal and now calls for its abrogation by ridiculing and stigmatizing the upland/riverine dichoyomy.

How did Ikwerre turn the table against Ijaw?

Again we rely on excerpts from Ochereome Nnanna’s article ‘Rebisi in history’ which is most revealing. He wrote:

“It was agreed that as the touted largest Minority group, the Ijaw needed a state of their own. But with their emotional attachment to Port Harcourt, how would Rivers State be split without creating a permanent ethnic war front in Nigeria’s premier oil city?

“With the Ijaw groups obviously being favoured by the Northern-led Federal Government, Eze Woluchem, a lawyer who was installed paramount ruler of Port Harcourt in 1977 turned to Dr Azikiwe, appealing for him to support the aspirations of his Igbo kinsmen in the struggle. An ageing “Zik” referred the Eze’s delegation to Commodore Ukiwe, who had become Zik’s close political confidant. The Eze’s delegation of four, which included the late Chief Okogbule Wonodi and Chief Andrew Uchendu, met with Ukiwe in his office in Victoria Island.

“Their proposal was that Port Harcourt State should only be for Igbo-speaking Rivers people, while the Ijaw-speaking part would be named New Rivers State. On the other hand, the Kalabaris did not want to be parted with Rivers State, neither did the Okrikas, and Ukiwe advised that it would be “unstrategic” to cut out Bonny, Opobo, Kalabari and Okrika, apart from the fact that the Head of State, General Abacha, who was pro-Ijaw, might be pushed not to create any new state at all.

“Between Ukiwe and the Ikwerre delegation, and taking into account the expressed needs of others, the maps of the present Rivers State and Bayelsa State were drawn and presented to Abacha, who found it acceptable.


Gen. Abacha, created Bayelsa and subjugated Rivers Ijaw

“On October 1, 1996, General Abacha included Bayelsa as one of the six new states approved by the Provisional Ruling Council, PRC. The postulations put together by Ukiwe and the Rebisi’s delegates worked like magic. Today the Ijaws have a state of their own with a capital (Yenagoa) which is being styled the “Jerusalem of the Ijaw Nation”. The Igbo-speaking groups in Rivers State also have a state in which they constitute a comfortable majority and have led since 1999”.

The dichotomy has been used by the upland to achieve their goal and can now be discarded.

It was Dr. Peter Odili, who as governor made the first announcement that there was no more Upland and Riverine in Rivers State. Ironically, Odili was the first beneficiary of the Upland/Riverine dichotomy in the New Rivers State who was supported to be governor on the basis of the Upland/Riverine rotation principle.

Angry, Rivers Ijaw leaders told Governor Odili that “Nobody can abrogate the Upland/Riverine divide by fiat when the overwhelming disparity in development and the lopsided distribution of amenities stare us in the face; our diverse languages, mangroves, mud skippers and periwinkles define us as a distinct people”.

Governor Nyesom Wike in April this year, while speaking with the organizers of Zik Leadership Prize Award, declared that one of the greatest achievements of his administration is the elimination of the upland/riverine dichotomy which he said plagued the state in the past. He said “In this state before, all you see and hear was tribalism; that you are from the upland, you are from the riverine and so people were not doing things as if we are one Rivers.


“So, we felt that, one way we can make progress is if we see ourselves as one and once that is done, then we have moved to the next step. So today, our concern is that the issue of upland/riverine is no longer necessary”.

Another Ikwerre man who is the Publicity Secretary of the Rivers State chapter of PDP and Chairman of Ikwerre LGA, Samuel Nwanosike said Gov. Nyesom Wike has changed the aged-long riverine/upland dichotomy, which hindered development. Speaking to newsmen he said that “Today, you cannot differentiate between the riverine and the upland because everywhere is connected by roads, credit to Nyesom Wike and nobody can change that vision” (Sun Newspaper March 19, 2018).

Yet another Ikwerre man who is the Rivers State Director of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Oliver Wolugbom said that those who are still propagating the riverine/upland sentiment are not only dwelling in the past but are also unfair to the state. Mr. Wolugbom described such persons as selfish opportunists who do not mean well for the state and its people, insisting that what had limited the progress and development of the state was this issue that pitched Rivers people against themselves and did not engender unity and collective action towards advancement.

Now that Ikwerre domination has replaced Ijaw domination, they say that there is no more need for the upland/riverine dichotomy.



Benefits of the Upland/Riverine Dichotomy

Engr. Beks Dagogo-Jack captured the essence of the principle of Upland/Riverine dichotomy when he said that “the principle was never a divisive phrase as it is currently being labeled. This principle was unanimously agreed upon, introduced and applied across board on all such critical areas as scholarship awards, rural roads, sitting of health and education institutions with a conscious program to bridge the gap and seek a more even spread of development across the state.

“It was applied as a unifying balancing tool to achieve inclusiveness and even spread of development. It was the single most potent peace and unity device. The clear noble aim underlying this principle was to achieve a fair, equitable, integrated and balanced development of the State”.

To instill the spirit of belonging and equality and inclusiveness, when a Riverine (Ijaw) man is governor, the deputy is chosen from the Upland and vice versa. The office of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Secretary to Government, Head of Service etc. rotate between the Upland and the Riverine (Ijaw).

In accordance with the Upland/Riverine principle of rotation, prominent Riverine (Ijaw) leaders led by Alabo T.O. Graham-Douglas and the late Dr. Marshall Harry spearheaded the election of Governor Peter Odili, an Upland person in 1999.

Ofoni my village but grow up in wafftown, brother and sister I greet you people.