IYC Accuses Delta Gov of  Political Strangulation, Suffocation of Ijaws

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has accused the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, of politically strangulating and suffocating the Ijaw ethnic nationality in the state in his six months reign in office.

IYC in a statement made available to journalists in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, alleged that the Ijaws in Delta State haven’t felt the impact of his government in this few months of his tenure.

The statement warned that the Ijaw people in Delta State would rise against actions from the Delta State Government if the government continue to undermine the collective growth of the Ijaw people. The IYC argued that as the economic and political base of Delta State, the Ijaws deserve fair treatment in terms of development and reasonable political appointments. The group said: “While the Ijaw Youth Council congratulates the governor of Delta State on his victory at the governorship election in 2023, as a council representing the interests of Ijaw people in Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Imo, and Lagos States, and Abuja as well as in the diaspora, we want to draw the governor’s attention to the fact that the Ijaws in Delta State haven’t felt the impact of his government in this few months into his tenure.

“It is important to note that the Ijaw people in Delta State will rise against actions from the Delta State Government headed by Governor Oborevwori if the government continue to undermine the collective growth of the Ijaw people. As the economic and political base of Delta State, the Ijaws deserve fair treatment in terms of development and reasonable political appointments.

“The Ijaws in Delta State cannot solely be valued during elections and then neglected along with their communities afterward. This inimical and tyrannical political thinking must stop as the Ijaw people can no longer put up with this kind of predatory political manipulation. We are beginning to see that the Oborevwori’s government is technically strangulating and suffocating the Ijaws politically in Delta State.

“Delta is a multi-ethnic state, and any actions by the governor, as the father of the state, must consider these ethnic indices. Failure to do so won’t be acceptable to the affected ethnic groups, as they are equally stakeholders in the state, especially the Ijaw people.”

Despite lauding the governor for approving #78 billion for road construction and three flyovers in Warri and its surroundings, IYC expressed disappointment that the Ijaw riverine communities and kingdoms haven’t received substantial projects.