Ijaws Don't Run For Fears, We Face Our Fears - Comrade Ebiwana

By The9JaTREND

                Comrade Sam Ebiwana

     Chairman, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) 

                      Olodiama Clan

Chairman, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Olodiama Clan in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Comrade Sam Ebiwana has called on Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki who is the Chief Security Officer of the State to urgently look into the dispute between Ikoro and Obazuwa Communities before the crisis generate security breach in the State.

Comrade Ebiwana made the observation yesterday, the 26th of July, 2021 while reacting to publication in one of Nigerians daily newspaper where Obazuwa Community claimed that Ikoro are settlers in the community.

He said, "In response to Obazuwa people saying vis-a-vis that Ijaws people are the settlers and tenants here, to me, l think your findings can attest to the fact that Ikoro are the rightful owner of this community.

"Ikoro Primary School was founded in 1917. So, automatically Ikoro has been in existing before the school was founded.

"Our church, Baptist Church was founded in 1880. What that mean is that, if you are talking about those that are settlers, l think Obazuwa are the main settler here."

Going further, Comrade Ebiwana added, "this Obazuwa have be beating drum of war, we have be telling the security agencies, Edo State governor to call them to order. Our quietness should not be taken for granted by Obazuwa people. We just want the law to take its course. But, if the issue is not resolve amicably and Obazuwa people still continue to harass our people and our developers, we will react.

"In all ramification, in any form they think they can withstand us, we are ready. We don't run for our fears, we face our fears. We have, on several fora, aired our views in the media, we also wrote to Edo State government through Secretary to State Government (SSG) to come resolve this dispute.

 

"When we met with Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the issue was raised. So, the governor should urgently look into this issue before it will cost security breach in the state."

When asked why not resolve the dispute in a round table discussion, Comrade Sam Ebiwana said, "initially, we have the mind to resolve this issue in a round table discussion, but the so-called Obazuwa people are not even ready for dialogue, they felt that we are settlers and they don't have anything to discuss with us, that the land belong to them, that we should leave. 

"We are Pare of Oladiama Kingdom, which here Ikoro is the headquarters of Oladiama Kingdom and our Pere, the king of Olodiama Kingdom leaves here in Ikoro Community. So, the way they (the Obazuwa) have their Enogies and Oba, the same way we have our king.

"The Oba of Benin who we respect so much and hold in high esteem, the same way we also expect the Obazuwa to have respect for our Pere. The way we have value for their Oba, so also the way they should have value for our Pere."

Speaking to The9JaTREND, a woman leader in the community, Mrs. Florence Olushemi said, "Obazuwa people came to meet us here. I am calling on Edo State Governor. Mr. Godwin Obaseki to beg Obazuwa people to leave us one, they should allow us to have peace, Ikoro is our own."

Mrs. Vero Afemi is an activist in the community. She asked, "Obazuwa people, who created this heaven and earth? The blood that run through the vein of Obazuwa people, is it different from the one they run through the vein of Ikoro people?" 

"Help tell Obazuwa people to leave us alone, we don't look for trouble, we are peace loving people," she appealed.