Continued Marginalization Of Edo Ijaws: IYC Scribe Writes Obaseki, Defend Demands

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By Binebai Princewill 

The Western Zone Secretary of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Comr. Omaghomi Olu-Derimon has written His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State over the age long neglect meted out on the Ijaw riverine communities in the state. The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide can report.

Comr. Omaghomi Olu-Derimon had while defending the demands of the Ijaw people in Edo State maintained that their demands were legitimate and not meant to embarrass the Governor of Edo State. 

The statement had particularly made critical appraisal of both present and past administrations in Edo State for abandoning the Ijaw areas in the state despite their political and economic contributions. 

The IYC Western Zone Secretary had passionately called on Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State to make a difference by massively developing the riverine communities.

The statement reads below:

Press Release 

Our demands are legitimate not meant to embarrass the Governor,

IYC scribe western Zone says. 

In the last 200 hrs, i have received many many calls from different quaters as regard our press briefing, where we demanded for a commissioner in the state executive council and infrastructural development in our reverine terrain. 

We all  can agree  that the riverine area of Edo state is mostly occupied by the Ijaws and  it is the most underdeveloped area of the state, owing to the neglect of the area by past administrations, lacking the basic means of livelihood in terms of primary health care, portable water , schools, water hyacinth and lack of good roads. 

With over 200 major and satellite communities,  we have contributed to the socio economical live of Edo state with nothing to show for it. Just recently, the government of Edo state listed some roads for construction and rehabilitation, guess what’, non of our communities were captured, our means of livelihood is threatened because of water hyacient  and nothing is being done about it, meanwhile a lot of development is taking place in the city. 

Just imagine roads been constructed by Nddc are all over the cities but nothing is happening were they get the oil from. 

All   what we are saying is that the governor should replicate the good works he is doing in the city in our terrain as well. Sooner or later if things do not improve as expected, we will review our stance in the state without looking back. 

The governor is our in-law and he should treat us the way men treat their  in-laws.

Finally, we appreciate the governor for improvement of security in the state  and  the seaport initiative coupled with the  work so far, but we do request that alongside the seaport, a marine academy be sited in Gelegele to train and develope human capacity to compliment for experts that will be needed during the commencement of the port. 

We all can testify that majority of votes from the riverine part of the state counted for the incumbent governor and I am of the opinion that it is high time the governor give the Ijaws a strategic appointment within the Ijaws who are in the PDP.

Omaghomi Olu-Derimon 

Secretary Ijaw Youth Council Western zone

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