The five Ijaw kingdoms in Edo State have accused the state government and the Oba of Benin's palace of marginalizing them for decades. They claim to have been treated as second-class citizens in their ancestral lands and are demanding autonomy. The Ijaw population, spread across over 500 communities, has been deliberately split to deny them a collective political voice, according to the kingdoms' leaders. They also allege that attempts have been made to rename and annex their communities.
The Ijaw kingdoms, including Egbema, Olodiama, Okomu, Gbaran, and Furupagha, assert that they are aboriginal to their territories and predate the Benin Kingdom. They cite historical accounts by Chief Dr. Jacob Egharevba and other historians, as well as colonial-era institutions like Ikoro Baptist Church (1887) and Gbelebu Primary School (1904). The kingdoms also recall a 1988 incident where the then Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, attempted to appoint his brother as Enogie over riverine Ijaw communities, a move that was resisted and later settled by the then military administrator of Bendel State.
The kingdoms presented three demands to the Edo State Government: the creation of three local government centers for Ijaw indigenes, immediate recognition of their traditional rulers, and presentation of Staff of Office to them. Alternatively, they request that all Ijaw communities in Edo State be allowed to join their kith and kin in Delta and Ondo States for better integration and development. Their demands are anchored on the 1988-1989 Constituent Assembly Report and provisions of the 1999 Constitution on federal character and self-determination.
The leaders of the Ijaw kingdoms, who signed a statement read by Chief Robinson Ogunkoruwei, warn that failure to address their issues could escalate inter-ethnic tension. They cite a recent statement by the Amanyanabo of Elem Kalabari, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, as reflecting the current reality of deprivation of Edo Ijaws. The statement was made during a press conference at Gelegeles community in the state.
The Ijaw kingdoms also referenced a Supreme Court judgement in Suit No. SC 131/1982 over a farmland dispute between Gelegelegbene (Ijaw) and Ughoton (Bini). They stress that the case was between individuals and not a determination of communal ownership between the two ethnic groups. Furthermore, they linked recent inflammatory publications and insinuations in the state and National Assembly to a renewed attempt to undermine Ijaw agitation.
Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, responded to the Ijaw kingdoms' demands, stating that Gelegele is part and parcel of Edo State. His response comes after the Ijaw kingdoms' allegations of marginalization and demands for autonomy. The issue remains a contentious one, with the Ijaw kingdoms seeking recognition and self-determination.
The Ijaw kingdoms' agitation for autonomy and recognition has sparked a renewed debate about the relationship between the Edo State Government and the Ijaw communities. With a population spread across over 500 communities, the Ijaw kingdoms are seeking a greater voice in the state's affairs. Their demands have been influenced by historical and constitutional factors, and the outcome remains to be seen.
Key points
- The Ijaw kingdoms in Edo State are demanding autonomy and recognition of their traditional rulers.
- The kingdoms claim to have been marginalized and treated as second-class citizens in their ancestral lands.
- The Edo State Government has responded, stating that Gelegele is part of Edo State.
