Ijaw group warns Ohanaeze against actions threatening peaceful coexistence 

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has cautioned the Ohaneze NdiIgbo to steer clear of any actions that may affect peaceful coexistence among all.

The INC National Publicity Secretary, Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, has therefore declared that the Ijaws believe in one Nigeria but stated that, if the need arises to part, the Ijaws will not cede to any ethnic group, whether the Ohanaeze Ndigbo or the Afenifere, but will remain on their own.

The INC spokesman further warned the Igbo apex group not to include Ijaw ancestral lands in its Igbo territory.

He explained that the claim by the Igbo apex group that the entire Rivers State is part and parcel of Igbo land, making the state one of the statutory member states of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, is false.

The INC spokesman noted that the Ijaw remain a majority ethnic group in Rivers State, with 10 local government areas.

Recall that the Rivers State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, known as (Ogbakor Ndi Igbo Na Rivers), during a meeting in Port Harcourt at the weekend, demanded that the next president of the apex Igbo group should come from the state, saying, “It is their turn.”

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The call for Rivers State to produce the next President-General follows the demise of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, the 11th President-General of Ohanaeze NdiIgbo.

The group explained that the rotation aligns with Article 11 of the Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Constitution, ensuring the office of the President-General is shared among seven member states.

The request was contained in a communiqué signed by Livingstone Wechie, Convener of (Ogbakor Ndi-Igbo Na Rivers), also known as Rivers State Igbo Stakeholders.

Reacting to the development, the INC spokesman said: “While we respect the individual rights of freedom of association, the Ijaws, who constitute one of the major ethnic groups in Rivers State, cannot be part of and be represented in Ohaneze Ndigbo.”

“Besides, some of the Local Government Areas mentioned in the claim, like the Port Harcourt Local Government Area, have other ethnic groups like the Ijaw-Okrika group and the Engenes in Ahoada West.”

He said the Ijaws have never conceded any inch of their territory to be part of any ethnic group(s).

He added, “The Ijaws have never been conquered and will not be conquered. We, therefore, advise caution and crave the indulgence of all ethnic nationalities to respect every action that would promote peaceful coexistence among us.