Ijaw people living in Benin, Edo State have described a statement credited to the governor, Godwin Obaseki as unguided, unlawful and unwarranted.
The governor had described the purported King Godwin Oguyenbo who was crowned as the Pere of Oladiama kingdom as non-existent.
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In a harsh response from the Coordinator, Order of Egbesun Bortherhoold, Bodmas P. Kemepadei, the Ijaws described such statement as a display of ignorance, adding that the state action on the peaceful kingdom is because of the national resources and the popular Gelegele seaport.
“Our attention has been drawn to the unguided, unlawful and unwarranted statements of the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki, wherein he issued an order to desecrate the Ijaw sacred institution, abuse our kingship stool and apprehend our King, in person of HRM King Godwin Oguyenbo, Pere of Olodiama Kingdom in Edo state, on grounds of unlawful coronation.
“Obaseki’s claim that the ijaw community in the area is non-existent, is a clear display of sheer ignorance, the ijaws have proven with historical fact that we are aborigines of those lands.
The Governor should not allow himself to be used as a tool of instigating violence and causing unrest, he has no right to order for the arrest of a well recognised King who has flaunted no law.
“We also deduce that though it is the voice of Obaseki, but the words of the royal father of Benin Kingdom is behind the order of arrest issued, simply because they want to annex Olodiama kingdom into Benin Kingdom, because of the oil and seaport sited there.”
The group caution the governor to stay away from actions that could lead to violence, adding that they would defend themselves if it becomes necessary.
“First, we wish to inform the Governor that we are aware that he is only carrying out the directive of the Oba of Benin, we are therefore surprised why on earth an Ijaw affair will be giving the Bini people a sleepless night to the extent that they had to usurp the state power against us.
“It is therefore on this grounds, following second-class treatments meted out on Ijaws in these communities of Edo State, that the ijaws deemed it necessary to have a monarch that would be significant for the growth and development of the people and lands, besides this is not the first time the Kingdom is having a King.
“We therefore call on Obaseki to desist from actions that are capable of causing acrimony between binis and ijaws, obaseki as the administrative head of the state should rather be concerned in moves that will bring peace, he should not brew another crises in the face of dousing the already existing tension created by militants groups.
“The Ijaws are not at war with binis, but we are also not afraid to defend our territory if the need arises, we have been living in peace and we would continue to maintain it, but obaseki should thread with caution, let him stop beating the drums of war.”
The group called on the Federal Government to intervene, adding that the action of the state governor may plunge the region into anarchy.
“We call on the federal Government to call Governor Obaseki to order before he plunges the region into a theatre of intertribal war, we ask the federal government to stand down all security agencies and look for other means in resolving the issue, arresting an Ijaw King is a sacrilege and will be resisted by Ijaws.
“The Edo State Government should not pull in other Ijaw kingdoms into the crisis, the Pere of Olodiama kingdom is a King recognised by all other sister Ijaw Kingdoms.”
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