Again, Ozobo calls on Gov. Obaseki to present staff of office to Ijaw kings in Edo

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

Foremost Niger Delta rights activist, Comrade Ozobo Austin, has reiterated the call on the governor of Edo state, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki to emulate his Ondo counterpart who presented staff of office to five Ijaw kings in the Ondo state and replicate the same by presenting staffs of office to the existing five Ijaw kings in the Edo state.

This was made available to newsmen in a statement signed by himself on Friday.

He said the Ijaws were there for him when the chips were down, adding that he should replicate the Ijaw’s strong support for him in his various political battles and present staffs office to the Ijaw kings in the state as a way of appreciating them.

Ozobo accused the governor of the state of deliberate marginalization of the Ijaw people in connivance with the Oba of Benin in the state.

He added that despite Ijaw communities providing the bulk of oil and gas revenue in the state, they lacked all basic amenities and meaningful infrastructural projects.

The rights activist averred that the Ijaw nation would continue to resist every modern slavery and calculated attempt to undermine Ijaws in Edo state and every part of the country.

He gave the name of the five Ijaw kingdoms in Edo state as Egbema, Okomu, Furupagha, Gbarain and Olodiama.

Ozobo said his people were not considered for key appointments in Edo state which was deliberately orchestrated by the governor of the state and the Oba of Benin.

However, he threatened to resume intellectual war with the Edo state governor and Oba of Benin if the staffs of office are not presented to Ijaw kings, roads and other critical infrastructures in the Ijaw communities are not fixed urgently.