IPDI Calls on Opukutu III, Kuku, Bibopre to Defend Indigenous Lands of Akpata in Ondo

By Monday Peters, Abuja

The Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, has called on His Imperial Majesty, Pere Zacchaeus Doubra Egbunu (JP), Opukutu III, the Agadagba and Paramount Ruler of Arogbo Ibe Kingdom in Ondo State, Chief Kingsley Kemebradikumo Kuku and Chief Bibopre Ajube, to defend the indigenous lands of Akpata community in Ondo State from alleged encroachment by the governor of the state His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa with parochial agenda.

In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its National President, Austin Ozobo, IPDI said the call became necessary following reports of forceful land grabbing and threats to the ancestral heritage of the Akpata people by external interests.

IPDI described Akpata as one of the historic Ijaw settlements in the Niger Delta whose lands, waterways, and cultural sites are under increasing pressure and threats.

“We are calling on our revered leaders, His Imperial Majesty, Pere Zacchaeus Doubra Egbunu (JP), Opukutu III, the Agadagba and Paramount Ruler of Arogbo Ibe Kingdom in Ondo State, Chief Kingsley Kemebradikumo Kuku and Chief Bibopre Ajube and other responsible leaders to rise in defense of the indigenous lands of Akpata. They should equally distance themselves from bargaining the aboriginal Ijaws of Akpata into slavery which threatens the existence of Akpata people,” the statement read.

“The Ijaw nation cannot afford to watch another community lose its ancestral land to migrants. What affects Akpata today will affect the entire Ijaw nation tomorrow,” the Ijaw ancestors and gods will be very angry at the Arogbo Ijaw leaders if they fail to defend Akpata against external threats, IPDI added.

According to IPDI, members of the Akpata community have raised concerns over attempts by the Ondo State Governor, using some prominent Ijaw people in the Arogbo kingdom to forcefully settle his people.

The group alleged that the development, if unchecked, could trigger communal tension and displace indigenes who depend on the land and creeks for fishing and farming.

“The land in question is the soul of the Ijaw people. Any attempt to take Akpata land is an attempt to erase our history,” Ozobo stated.

IPDI urged the leaders to convene a meeting of Ijaw leaders, stakeholders, traditional rulers, and youth bodies in Ondo to deliberate on strategies to secure Akpata and other vulnerable Ijaw communities in Ondo State.

“We believe in dialogue and the rule of law. But we will not fold our arms while our people are pushed out of their fatherland,” the statement further said.

IPDI said it will continue to monitor developments in Akpata and engage stakeholders to ensure peace and justice for the people.

It also called on president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, NSA and security agencies to prevail on the governor of Ond State, His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to rescind from his inimical and orchestrated plans to unsettle Akpata people.