Ijaws Did Not Only Triumphed, They Rejected The Stereotype About Them By Disappointing Those Who Wanted Violence
Ijaws occupy a very special place in history in the African continent and the Nigerian state in particular.
They are not only among the first inhabitants of the Delta that was later name Niger Delta by European explorers and adventurers, they are a very blessed people. Majority of Ijaws are physically built and mentally sound. The men are handsome, while the women are extremely beautiful. They are endowed with good shape and well curved buttocks. Their beauty charms and hypnotizes most men especially non-Ijaws.
Ijaws are blessed with abundant natural resources. For instance, they have the longest coastal line in Nigeria with so much fishes, sea foods and other resources that are deposited in the seas and oceans around them. There are unquantifiable quantities of crude oil and gas in their lands. Their lands are some of the most fertile for palm tree plantation, rubber plantation, cocoa plantation, plantain farming, cassava, vegetables etc. Their lands are so rich and fertile that they don’t need fertilizer and other chemicals to grow their crops.
Like the Israelites, the blessings of Ijaws have attracted unimaginable envy, jealousy and hatred.
So for centuries, Ijaws have been fighting to protect her territories, their God-given natural resources and for survival.
Historically, Ijaws emerged victorious in the many battles with the British colonialists and imperialists which is the reason why the British colonialists never liked Ijaws. They felt that Ijaws were too stubborn and could not be controlled. It was for the above reason that they decided to balkanize Ijaw territories into bits in order to weaken them and make them minorities in the units (provinces and regions) that they were balkanized into. They deliberately made Ijaws vulnerable.
The British imperialists stole and plundered the abundant natural resources belonging to Ijaws, the same way successive administrations in Nigeria have continued to steal and when the Ijaws ask questions, they are tagged negative names. Like the Europeans, successive administrations have mobilized the military against them for asking for fair shares from their God-given natural resources.
Over the years, they have stereotyped Ijaws as very violent people. Centuries ago, the European explorers and adventurers particularly the British, described Ijaws as Cannibals who lived on top of mangroves and fed on human flesh, which was not true because Ijaws do not feed human flesh.
They adopted the above propaganda strategy in order to discourage other European merchants from going to the geographic Niger Delta to discover and also access the abundant natural resources.
In the independent Nigerian state, Ijaws even though the most generous, most hospitable and most tolerant Nigerians have continued to suffer the same stereotype.
Those who are stealing and sharing the abundant natural resources of Ijaws deliberately stereotype them as violent people in order to attract unwarranted hatred to them.
They deliberately use violence tag against Ijaws, while stealing their abundant natural resources.
For instance, successive administrations in Nigeria promote violence, crime and criminality in so many ways. The special attention they give to criminals suggest that they only appreciate violence. They deify crime and criminal, while ignoring and downplaying peaceful Nigerians.
As usual, the government have been provoking Ijaws to act so that they can carry out their evil plans against them.
Many institutions and systems including security reports suggested escalation of violence in the Niger Delta because of the political crisis in Rivers State.
They predicted bombing and sabotage of oil facilities but Ijaws disappointed them. Before now, fifth columnists carry out pipeline vandalism and tag Ijaws as the perpetrators.
Recent developments and arrests particularly along the Emohua axis and others have exonerated Ijaws.
I therefore commend and celebrate Ijaws for proving their detractors wrong. Ijaws have TRIUMPHED. Their silence and peaceful dispositions have proven to be more potent than guns and bombs. Today, Nigerians from different tribes and ethnic groups have risen in defense of Ijaws. The story would have been different if Ijaws had resorted to violence.
Ijaws are not violent, lazy and unproductive as the enemies of the Ijaw Nation make other Nigerians and the rest of the world to believe.
Ijaws have some of the best brains as evidence in their distinguished and very outstanding performances everywhere they find themselves all over the world.
Moving forward, Ijaws need to be very STRATEGIC. Strategy is the core of every system. We all know the common saying that “he who fail to plan has already planned to fail”.
Ijaws must have strategic plans. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu spent many years planning for his presidency and when the time was ripe, he got it. The United States of America and other prosperous Nations have short term, medium term and long term plans. They don’t just wait for things to happen, rather they make things to happen.
Ijaws do not need to Always act on their emotions and prevalent circumstances. They need to go down to planning and strategizing.
Ijaws need a coordinating figure who will do the strategic work and also play the fatherly role that High Chief Dappa-Biriye, Chief (Sen.) Dr. Melford Obiene Okilo, Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro and Pa E.K Clark played till his recent transition to meet his ancestors.
His Excellency, Amb. Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali does not only possess the necessary educational qualifications, he also attained an enviable height in his working career. He also worked very closely with our father Pa E.K Clark who entrusted him with a lot of responsibilities. This is time to assemble an outstanding Team of Ijaw Think Tanks who will be focused and target and result-oriented.
This is the time to work to secure a greater and brighter future for the Ijaw Nation.
~~~ Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli
Mirror and Conscience of Society.
3/04/2025.
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