By Our Correspondent
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has raised serious concerns over a publication currently circulating on social media which erroneously depicts aboriginal Ijaw communities across several states as part of the proposed Biafra Republic.
In a statement issued by its global leadership, the INC clarified that the misleading map includes indigenous Ijaw territories located in Rivers, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Imo States—an inclusion the Congress firmly rejects as false, provocative, and historically inaccurate.
Reaffirming the long-standing position of the Ijaw people, the INC stressed that no part of Ijaw land or waterways has ever been, nor will ever be, part of the Biafra Republic. According to the Congress, such misrepresentation not only distorts historical and cultural realities but also risks creating unnecessary tension among ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta and beyond.
The INC further urged members of the public, particularly Ijaw youths and communities, to remain calm and not be swayed by the misleading publication. The leadership assured that it remains vigilant and committed to the protection, defense, and preservation of Ijaw territory, identity, culture, and collective interests.
While emphasizing its commitment to peaceful coexistence within the Nigerian state, the Congress made its position unmistakably clear on matters of self-determination. It stated that should there ever arise a legitimate need for the Ijaw Nation to pursue separation from Nigeria, such a process would be undertaken independently and solely under the banner of an Ijaw Republic.
The statement was signed by the President of the Ijaw National Congress (Global), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, who reiterated the Congress’ resolve to resist any attempt—deliberate or otherwise—to subsume the Ijaw Nation under another ethnic or political identity.
The INC concluded by calling on individuals and groups behind the publication to immediately desist from further misrepresentation of Ijaw territories, warning that the Ijaw people will continue to assert their historical rights and sovereignty within the Nigerian federation and in any future political arrangement.
Kindly share
