Edo Ijaws kick as Obaseki releases list of Commissioner nominees

By Timi Black

•call for fairness, justice*

The Ijaws of Edo State have raised objection against the list of Commissioner nominees released by Mr Godwin Obaseki, the governor of the State.

The aggrieved Ijaws said they have been marginalized by successful government in the state, adding that it would be unacceptable to exclude Ijaws in the list of Commissioner nominees in the state.

They averred that in spite of the fact that the Ijaws are in three Local Government areas in the state, no Ijaw man has been given the opportunity to serve as Commissioner in the state, noting that Ijaws were marginalized in terms of employment, infrastructure and appointment.

This was made available to reporters which was signed by Chief Frank Beke, Ajakurama community, and Comrade Lawoni Dumofaye of Abere community on Friday.

According to the duo:“It’s condemnable and resistable by the people of Egbema Ijaws, Olodiama Ijaws, Furopa Ijaws, Okomu Ijaws and Gbaraun Ijaws of Edo state over the recent nomination of Commissioners in Edo State where no any Ijaw man’s name was included. We the Ijaws are occupants in three local government areas in Edo State, namely; Ovia South West, Ovia North East and Ikpoba Oha Local Government Areas.

“And the Ijaws occupying these three local government areas are populated with an estimate of about Fifteen million Ijaw people and these Ijaws are marginalized , oppressed, intimidated , permanently neglected in the Edo State Government in areas of political appointment, development, and employment,” they narrated.

“There had been no time, the Ijaw men in these three local government areas mentioned above was given a local government chairman because of hatred and oppression from the Edo State government.

“The Ijaw communities in these three local government areas have no government medical centres, no pipe-borne water, no electricity, no good roads, no Government schools,” the duo lamented..