Isaac Boro Day: Ijaw Nation confronted with renewed quest for nationalism- IYC

Bight News correspondent reports that the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC has said the Ijaw nation is confronted with a renewed quest for nationalism within the Nigerian Federation on Saturday.

The statement was gathered from a speech issued by Comr. Kennedy Olorogun, the President of the IYC Central Zone and the Chairmain IYC National Transition Committee on Saturday during the celebration of an Ijaw hero, Late. Isaac Adaka Boro’s Day at the Ijaw Heros Park.

“The Ijaw nation is confronted with the renewed quest for nationalism within the Nigerian federation” Olorogun said.

Read the full statement below;

STATEMENT ISSUED BY COMR. KENNEDY OLOROGUN, CHAIRMAN IJAW YOUTH COUNCIL ( IYC) NATIONAL TRANSITION IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE ON THE OCCASION OF THE ISAAC ADAKA BORO’S DAY CELEBRATION AT THE IJAW HEROS PARK ON SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020.

1. We are here to mark this year’s Annual Boro’s Day Celebration at the Ijaw Heros Park. This year, because of the Health Crisis the World is facing due to the COVID-19 global pandemic we elected to make it a low – key.

2. However, the drive, enthusiasm and passion to demonstrate, how we feel as a people celebrating a great day in the annals of the Ijaw nation remains constant. The Ijaw nation would continue to pursue issues of strategic importance to the Ijaw people and the Delta region; more fervently and with religious alacrity.

3. Today, the Ijaw nation is confronted with the renewed quest for nationalism within the Nigerian federation. This may have compelled other tribes, groups and ethnic nationalities in the Country, such as the Oduduwa and various movements championing the Biafra cause to renew their agitation for self- determination.

4. Whilst the Ijaw nation is not adverse to their cause. The forced annexation and fraudulent redrawing of the geographical boundaries of the Ijaw territories into their dream nations would no longer be tolerated.

5. We are using this medium to inform the promoters and sponsors of the Oduduwa and Biafra republics that they should not include Ijaw territories in their acclaimed nations. The Ijaws are domiciled in Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Aqua – Ibom States and are prominently resident in all the States of the Niger Delta.

6. In this wise, the Oduduwas and the Biafra successionists should leave Ijaw territories out of their utopian republics. Ijaws are capable of governing themselves. In this vein, the Ijaw nation is watching the unfolding events within the Nigerian polity closely, and at the fullness of time; the Ijaw nation would state her position.

7. Furthermore, there have been an unprecedented influx of Almajiris and aliens from the Northern Part of the Country into Ijaw territories and the region. We wish to state that while the Ijaws are very hospitable to visitors and foreigners, the Ijaw nation is not comfortable with these set of people coming into the region.

8. From our findings, their coming may not be far from their jihadic and conquest mission. The Ijaw nation is not a conquered territory. Let it be clear that we can defend ourselves.

9. Our goal as enuciated in the Kaiama Declaration is Self – Determination and Resource Control. We shall not deviate from it. The forced amalgamation of the independent nation- states of Ijaw nation into an unviable Nigerian project has arrested the huge potentials of the Ijaw people.

10. Therefore, we are using this historic opportunity to urge the Nigerian State to commence the process of the devolution and unbundling of the Nigerian State; which would enable the sub- national entities to contribute significantly to the growth of the Country.

11. Finally, Isaac Boro’s contribution to the raging debate to restructure the Nigerian Federation would remain indelible. If we want this Country to move on a fast lane of development, making the various states to contribute to national development is inevitable.