PRESENTATION TO IJAW NATIONAL CONGRESS EMERGENCY MEETING AT IJAW HOUSE YENAGOA ON 26 MARCH 2025
YOUR EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED IJAW ELDERS AND CHIEFS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I GREET YOU!
When I received the invitation to attend this gathering, I wondered what Ijaw nation wants to achieve from a discussion in a town hall meeting at this seemingly critical and challenging period in Ijaw history. No doubt, the presentations have cleared some areas.
Throughout my service career, in training and engagements, I was constantly guided by the principle that a military is not built on the occasion of crisis. Yes, in time of crisis there could be mass recruitment of people or even conscriptions. But the core of professionals would be behind to manage the crisis. That is why I wondered what a mass recruitment is intended to achieve.
There is no gain-saying that Ijaw nation has been reminded once again in very clear terms that the Ijaws are inconsequential in the country called Nigeria. They want the territory and the resources there-in, but not the humans who inhabit it. Check the owners of OPLs and OMLs and you will understand what I mean. Why should oil fields be allocated to individuals first of all and not the State? Why are they bombing and killing the Ijaws in the name of illegal refineries while protecting illegal miners elsewhere?
Some of our people boast that the Ijaws have never been conquered. I beg to disagree. They are defeated and indeed colonized and enslaved. There is a saying that when a slave finds comfort in his master’s house, freedom becomes an illusion. So, some of our people have found comfort in the slave-masters house and they even attack freedom. That is why when some of the people find themselves in certain positions, they forget their enslavement and protect the master instead.
Once again, in my career, they told us that in any operation, you must apply some basic principles of war. The first and most fundamental is to SELECT THE AIM AND MAINTAIN IT. Very important. For the Ijaw nation, that aim is “RESTRUCTURING AND TRUE FEDERALISM (RESOURCE CONTROL). Any other issue is an addendum. The question is; Have we maintained that aim? In theory such as this forum, the answer is; Yes. But in reality, the answer is; No. From the Dapa Biriyes to the Boros and the current crop of “freedom fighters” politicians, elders, Captains of industry, all stake-holders; I ask. Have we maintained the AIM?
It is this lack of maintenance of aim in actions that is crippling the Ijaws’ political and economic relevance. Thus, enabling individuals to insult the whole nation, and who are backed by those who hold the heads of the political and wealth knives, molded with oil money. They see nothing wrong when Ijaw nation is insulted as minority of the minorities. It is time now that the wealth contributions to the country should also become minority.
Otherwise how do we explain a situation where a robber comes to your house, employs you to keep watch outside, provides you a plate of food and a bottle of beer, then you are celebrating while he is robbing you of every property inside. As they are packing your property, if by chance you grab one cup to drink water because you are thirsty, they accuse you of stealing.
Moving forward, recall again that strategies to confront situations are never developed on the occasion of crisis and certainly not in an open forum like this. Okonkwo said; “They are not many. We can deal with them. But what about our people who have joined them?”.
I believe that the regular forces, the political, economic and security caucuses have somethings in their kitbags. Again, not for public debat. Let them meet, coordinate themselves and tell the Ijaw nation the next line of well thought-out actions.
In the interim, this forum can resolve that Nyesom Wike must not hold any public office before a final resolution of the crisis.
Overall, I think it is a good forum for sensitization.
Thanks to the organizers.
Just my thoughts.
Rear Admiral Woyengidinikpete Geoffrey Yanga (Rtd)
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