Why Edo State Ijaws of the Five Kingdoms May Withhold Support from Hon. Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion in the 2027 General Election for Ovia Federal Constituency

Why Edo State Ijaws of the Five Kingdoms May Withhold Support from Hon. Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion in the 2027 General Election for Ovia Federal Constituency

By EgbemaVoice

Niger Delta youth leader, Comrade Mingo Meshach Sayami Ogumaka, has expressed deep concern and dissatisfaction over what he described as an alleged anti-Ijaw stance by Hon. Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion, the current representative of Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

According to Comrade Mingo, the Edo State Ijaw communities across the five historic Ijaw kingdoms may be compelled to reconsider and potentially withdraw their electoral support for Hon. Omosede in the 2027 general elections due to statements and actions he claims undermine the identity, rights, and historical heritage of the Ijaw people within Ovia Federal Constituency.

He alleged that the lawmaker, through her remarks at the House of Representatives, rejected the recognition and political relevance of the Ijaw people in the constituency and made references that challenge the ownership and identity of ancestral Ijaw lands—lands he described as the God-given heritage of the Ijaw people.

Comrade Mingo revealed that the Ijaw people of Edo State have remained peaceful, law-abiding, and politically supportive of leaders who respect their identity and interests. However, he noted that any attempt to marginalize or deny the existence and contributions of the Ijaw ethnic nationality in Ovia Federal Constituency would not be accepted.

“The five Ijaw kingdoms of Edo State have contributed immensely to the political, social, and economic development of Ovia Federal Constituency and Edo State at large. We cannot support any representative who fails to acknowledge our identity, heritage, and rightful place in the constituency,” he stated.

He called on all Ijaw sons and daughters across the five kingdoms to remain united and vigilant, stressing that political support must always be earned through fairness, inclusion, justice, and respect for all ethnic nationalities within the constituency.

Comrade Mingo further urged political stakeholders and opinion leaders to prioritize equity and peaceful coexistence, warning that continued neglect or misrepresentation of Ijaw interests could significantly influence voting decisions in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

He further reiterate that, Bendel State Traditional Rulers Edict Never Denied Ijaw Indigenous Status in Edo and Delta, said Historical records and traditional chieftaincy edicts clearly affirm the presence and recognition of prominent Ijaw monarchs in the former Bendel State, now Edo and Delta States, contrary to misleading narratives suggesting otherwise.

Among the notable Ijaw traditional rulers recognized under the historical framework are the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, the Pere of Egbema Kingdom, and the traditional rulers of Kabowei, Olodiama, and Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdoms. These Ijaw kingdoms have existed for centuries, with deeply rooted ancestral institutions and long-established traditional leadership structures that predate colonial and post-colonial administrative boundaries.

The Midwestern State Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1975/1979 later inherited under the Bendel State administration was enacted primarily to classify and organize traditional leadership hierarchies across the state. The edict officially recognized the Oba of Benin as the foremost traditional ruler and Permanent Chairman of the State Council of Chiefs, while also affirming the positions of other major monarchs, including the Olu of Warri, the Orodje of Okpe, the Ovie of Uvwie, and the Ovie of Udu.

It is important to emphasize that nowhere in the 1975 edict was it stated or implied that the Ijaw people were not indigenous to Bendel State or present-day Edo State. Such claims are historically inaccurate and distort the constitutional and traditional recognition long accorded to Ijaw communities.

The role of the Oba of Benin under the edict was primarily to exercise customary authority over the Enigie (Dukes or village heads) within the Benin Kingdom and to serve as chairman of the state traditional council not Edo state Governor. This administrative recognition did not negate or diminish the sovereignty, heritage, or indigenous identity of other ethnic nationalities, including the Ijaw people, whose ancestral presence in the Niger Delta predates modern state formations.

As a respected public figure and a learned daughter from the distinguished Igbinedion family, Hon. Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion is expected to carefully study historical records and exercise caution in public statements concerning sensitive issues of indigenous identity and traditional heritage.

The Ijaw people remain one of the oldest indigenous ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta and have every legitimate historical, cultural, and constitutional right to their identity and ancestral homeland in both Edo and Delta States.

As part of efforts to further educate the public and clarify the historical identity of Edo State Ijaws, Comrade Mingo reaffirmed that the Ijaw (Izon) people of Edo State are indigenous riverine inhabitants whose ancestral presence in the Niger Delta predates the establishment of the Benin Empire and many other civilizations in present-day Nigeria.

According to him, Edo State Ijaws are predominantly found in Ovia North-East, Ovia South-West, and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Areas, where they are organized into five historic Ijaw kingdoms: Egbema, Olodiama, Gharun, Okomu, and Furupa Kingdoms, alongside several clans and major communities.

He stated that the Ijaw people possess a rich and unique aquatic civilization deeply rooted in the creeks and waterways of the Niger Delta, which has enabled them to preserve their distinct cultural identity over thousands of years.

Comrade Mingo explained that historical and oral traditions identify the Ijaw people as descendants of an ancient aboriginal West African group known as the Oru, from whom the Ijaws are believed to derive their earliest identity.

According to archaeological and linguistic evidence, the Ijaw people have inhabited the Niger Delta region since before the fifth millennium BCE, making them one of the oldest ethnic nationalities not only in Nigeria but among the world’s most ancient indigenous peoples.

Historical findings suggest that some of the earliest archaeological evidence of Ijaw settlements dates back to as early as 800 BCE, while available timelines from excavations provide approximately 3,000 years of documented Ijaw presence and civilization in the Niger Delta.

He noted that the Ijaws have maintained a distinct language and ethnic identity for over 5,000 years, largely because their settlements in the swampy and riverine environment remained inaccessible to many neighboring agriculturally dependent groups.

Comrade Mingo further highlighted that one of the earliest known Ijaw city-states, Agadagba-bou, existed for more than 400 years before its decline around 1050 CE, largely due to internal conflicts and environmental challenges.

Following its collapse, descendants of Agadagba-bou established another important Ijaw settlement known as Isoma-bou in the 11th century, which flourished until the 16th century.

Both ancient city-states were located within the Central Delta Wilberforce Island region, which remains one of the most densely populated Ijaw territories in Nigeria today.

According to oral narratives compiled by early historians, the ancestors of the Ijaw people migrated from ancient hinterland regions and became among the earliest settlers and aboriginal inhabitants of the Lower Niger, the Benin region, and the broader Niger Delta.

The Ijaw people established settlements across these regions and became renowned as exceptional seafarers and skilled navigators of waterways.

Historically, the Ijo ethnic nationality consisted of approximately 51 distinct kingdoms, each maintaining cultural autonomy while engaging in trade and mutual relations. As well Edo state five Ijaws kingdoms, Their economy was traditionally sustained through fishing, water-based trade, and maritime activities, with each kingdom preserving its own customs and traditional institutions.

Comrade Mingo stressed that the Ijaw communities remain sovereign in their traditional identity, operating under respected monarchs, including the Agadagba of Egbema Kingdom and the Pere rulers of the other four Ijaw kingdoms.

The Ijaw people were among the first ethnic groups in present-day Nigeria to establish contact with European explorers and merchants, beginning as early as the 15th century. Following sustained contact around 1500 CE, Ijaw communities became important middlemen in regional commerce, engaging in trade with European merchants, including the exchange of palm oil and other goods.

Over time, influential traders gained political authority within their communities, shaping governance and economic structures across many Ijaw territories.

Despite centuries of close interaction with neighboring Bini (Edo) communities, Ijaw people of Edo State have vigorously preserved their Izon language, customs, traditions, and indigenous institutions.

He strongly maintained that the Ijaws of Edo State are not recent settlers or migrants, but the original owners of their ancestral territories along the creeks and riverine fringes of Edo State.

Comrade Mingo reaffirmed the commitment of Edo State Ijaws to protecting their cultural heritage, defending their historical identity, and ensuring that future generations remain connected to their ancestral legacy as one of the oldest and most historically significant peoples in the Niger Delta.

He concluded by urging political leaders, historians, and government institutions to recognize and respect the unique historical and constitutional place of the Edo State Ijaw people in Nigeria’s diverse national heritage.