NIGER DELTA NEWS FEED

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) on Wednesday dissociated the Ijaws from the agitation for Oduduwa Republic and urged those behind the moves to steer clear of Ijaw lands and territories in their quest.

Kennedy Olorogun, Chairman, IYC Transition implementation Committee spoke to newsmen in Yenagoa following reports credited to Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a chieftain of Afenifere associating the Ijaws with Oduduwa Republic.

Adebanjo had in media reports credited to him last week included Ijaw territories as part of the proposed Oduduwa Republic as part of indegenouspeoples group for United Nations recognition.

Olorogun noted that the Ijaws were a distinct ethnic nationality and do not to be subsumed or used to agitate for relevance and advised those behind the plot to have a rethink.

“Ordinarily we have nothing against people fighting for self determination because it is in tune with our aspiration as a people.

“However, we note that in a recent presentation to be part of indigenous people organisation of the United Nations, the promoters of the Oduduwa movement included Ijaw lands and territories in the present Edo and Delta States as part and parcel of the Oduduwa Republic.

“We wish to state clearly that though we are not against the aspiration of the Oduduwa movement self determination movement, however, Ijaw lands and territories should be left out of the composition of the Oduduwa areas.

“The Ijaw people are indigenous and distinct people in Nigeria and Africa and not part and parcel of any other ethnic nationality in Nigeria.

“The Ijaw territories of Egbema, Okomu, Gbarai, Olodiama and Furopagha in Edo State and Gbaramatu, Ogbe-Ijoh, Isaba, Egbema and Diebiri in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State which were included as part of the Oduduwa Republic are not Yoruba lands but owned by Ijaw people.

“We call on the promoters of the Oduduwa Republic to henceforth not include those areas as part of their Republic.  We are not part and parcel of their Republic and do not wish to be part of it.

“We also call on the Indigenous people organisation of the United Nations to take note,” Olorogun said.