THE NEED FOR IJAW NATION TO TAKE HER RIGHTFUL POSITION IN NATIONAL AFFAIRS IN THE MIDST OF DEBATE ON ALIGNMENT AND NON-ALIGNMENT WITH THE CENTRE

Historical facts show that Ijaw is one of the oldest aboriginal tribes that has existed in Africa for thousands of years. However, the greatest problem of the Ijaws is lack of proper documentation of their history. 

Civilization of Ijaws date back to centuries particularly the 12th century when the first set of European adventurers and explorers mainly Portuguese arrived Ijaw territories and started having social interactions and even barter trades as equal trade partners. 

What we have as Nigeria that is derived from the description and word "Niger Area" wouldn't have been possible without Ijaws. 

The genocide of 1895 that led to the massacre of over 2000 Ijaws mostly women and children, due to Ijaw resistance against the British exploration and exploitation laid the foundation for what we have today as Nigeria. As a matter of fact, Nigeria started in Ijaw land and today, it is the most populous black nation on earth. 

But what has been the fate and stake of the Ijaw people? 

During the Industrial Revolution in Europe, the largest shipment of Natural Resources mostly Palm Oil, Timber and others were gotten from Ijaw land. 

During the Slave Trade era, the major Slave Terminals were in Ijaw land and from Bonny and other slave ports, intelligent, handsome and beautiful, vibrant, well built and highly resourceful men and women mostly from Ijaw and Igbo land were shipped out to Europe. Many died on the high sea due to sicknesses, ship wreckages and other factors. 

Again, with the discovery of crude oil and gas in commercial quantity and quality in the whole of West Africa in Ijaw land precisely at Otabagi-Oloibiri in  present day Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in 1956, Ijaw Nation that owns well over 65% of the crude oil and gas deposit in Nigeria has continued to sustain the Nigerian economy. 

Sadly, Ijaws have never gotten commensurate reward for her immeasurable and invaluable sacrifices. 

While Ijaws blame successive administrations in Nigeria for neglect, marginalization, deprivation and the ongoing environmental genocide, there is need for introspection. 

Ijaws need to do self-evaluation especially in terms of the various strategies that they have deployed over the years. Like sicknesses that need different medications, periodic political developments and changes, require adoption of periodic 

changes to suit prevalent trends. One cannot apply the same strategy for all cases and situations and expect different results. 

It is important to re-echo the fact that no tribe in Nigeria has made the level of sacrifices that the Ijaw Nation has continued to make for the peaceful co-existence, growth, development, sustainability and survival of Nigeria. 

Ijaw that is the predominant tribe in the geographic Niger Delta is suffering exactly what Nigeria the self-acclaimed 'Giant of Africa' suffers among smaller African countries and in the world. The above is due to lack of proper coordination and lack of strategy and proper finishing. 

I have described Ijaws again and again as very good footballers that play good football but lack scoring ability and in the game of football, people care less about the best teams. Attention and emphasis is always placed on the winners. Ijaws lack finishing. They lack the ability to convert good opportunities to their advantages. 

The above is largely responsible for the socio-economic and political stagnation of one of the greatest tribes in the world that is blessed with abundant human and natural resources that multitudes of tribes are praying for. 

THE PLACE OF THE IJAW NATION IN NATIONAL POLITICS

Ijaw that is the fourth largest tribe in Nigeria after Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo have continued to strive and agitate for her rightful position in the Nigerian project for decades. 

Her relentless agitation led to the selection cum nomination of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as Running Mate to Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua in 2007. The death of President Yar'Adua led to the elevation of Dr. Jonathan to the revered Office of President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. 

Historically, the Ijaw Nation is among the less than 10 tribes out of the over 350 distinct tribes that have governed/ruled Nigeria. 

Unfortunately and surprisingly too, instead of moving forward having attained the greatest height in the Nigerian politics, Ijaws are moving backward. They have been on reverse gear. 

From number 1 position in the country few years ago, today Ijaws are not among the first 40 revered offices and positions in Nigeria. 

The above is so because instead of striving and restrategizing after the defeat of President Jonathan in 2015, Ijaws decided to remain on the floor which is a political miscalculation in a country that play "Winner Take All" kind of politics. 

Ijaws are suppose to exhibit the high spirit and characteristics of good footballers that stand up immediately they fall in their quest for the ball or their bid to score. Footballers do not stay on the ground in the pitch till the end of the game, rather they jump up and go after the ball. 

In politics anywhere in the world, the ruling political party appoint their members and trusted political allies. They hardly give room, appointments and opportunities to members of the opposition because no wise politician will give undue advantages to his or her political opponents. 

Since the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan that represented the mandate of the Ijaw Nation and by extension that of the South South, majority of Ijaws particularly those in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states have remained in opposition. The above has kept Ijaws in very disadvantaged position.

Ijaws were able to produce the Vice President and later President of Nigeria under PDP because they were in PDP that was the ruling party then, today, APC is the ruling party and the ruling party dictates the pace of everything that is happening at the Federal level that control the federal allocation, armed forces, police and almost everything. It decides on how to share or allocate the resources gotten from the states. It also regulates seaports and others. 

Today, due to opposition and non-alignment with the government at the centre, Ijaws are not occupying key positions at the federal level. People from minority tribes in the geographic Niger Delta region where Ijaws are majority now dictate the pace of things to Ijaws. It is shameful and painful that Ijaws now lobby and beg for opportunities from minorities who are not better than Ijaws in any way but are only occupying privileged positions at the centre by reason of their alignment with the centre. 

A lot of people have failed to actualized their great destinies in life due to shame and unnecessary pride. 

Presently, there is heated debate about alignment and non-alignment with the ruling party at the centre. Unfortunately, most of the proponents of non-alignment have not been able to come out with any strong reason why they are insisting that Ijaw Nation particularly Bayelsa state that is the only homogenous Ijaw state should remain in opposition, while all the other states in the South South region have aligned with the centre.

Political parties in Nigeria are likened to vehicles that convey people from one place or destination to the other. No wise or responsible person will choose to remain in a vehicle that has broke down even if the vehicle is a cherished gift from his parents. Every wise man or woman will take another available vehicle to the destination where the instruments for the control of power and distribution/allocation of scarce resources are domiciled. 

The worst situation is the uncertainty and bleak future of PDP that has been hijacked by some political mafias that have strong influence on the judiciary too. Ijaws should avoid a regretful situation where all Nominations for House of Assembly, National Assembly and others will be nullified just by the pronouncement of one court judgement that will destabilize the entire Ijaw Nation. 

Bayelsa state is the heart beat of Ijaw Nation and Ijaws must be wise and smart to guide and protect Bayelsa state very jealously. 

No politician jokes with power and there is nothing like morality in politics just like the case with international politics. We are seeing what Israel is doing in Gaza. Ijaws should never make fundamental mistakes to put the Ijaw Nation at the mercy of anyone and the only way to avoid the above is to align with the centre. 

It is very important to note that the issue of alignment is beyond an individual. It is something that has to do with the future of the Ijaw Nation. A majority tribe that is a regional power bloc cannot allow herself to be rendered impotent, powerless and insignificant because of opposition politics. It is time to play smart politics. 

There is absolutely no way Ijaw Nation will not regain her pride of place if it realigns with the centre. Ijaw will definitely produce the next President of the Nigerian Senate and other key positions in 2027 if it realigns. 

Politics is all about strategy, dialogue and negotiations. 

 Comrade Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli

11/06/2025