The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has mentioned the proposed remapping train by the previous Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel was creating an ethnic rivalry between the Ijaw individuals within the Ibeno Native authorities space and the neighbouring communities of Eket and Esit Eket in Akwa Ibom State.
IYC Nationwide President, Theophilus Alaye, in an announcement issued Wednesday, known as on the federal authorities to name the governor of Akwa-Ibom state, Umo Uni to order over the doable unrest the remapping would trigger within the oil-producing space.
Alaye mentioned remapping of native authorities areas was not inside the purview of a state authorities, warning that the Ijaw nation would by no means settle for any politically motivated remapping and additional balkanization of the individuals for no matter causes.
He alleged that the threats towards Ijaw individuals within the affected native authorities had been a transparent menace to the existence of the Ijaw tribe within the state.
Alaye famous: “The eye of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has been drawn to the continued unrest in Akwa Ibom State which has put the lives of the Ijaw individuals of Ibeno Native authorities Space of Akwa Ibom State in peril.
“We want to state categorically that this avoidable disaster created by the proposed remapping train engineered by the then Governor of Akwa Ibom state His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel is definitely producing that unlucky results of destruction of properties and lack of lives within the Ijaw communities within the state.
“It’s worthy of be aware that the individuals of Eket allotted Ibeno lands to themselves whereas the land in query is earlier than a courtroom and there’s an injunction proscribing them from accessing the land.
“These provocative actions have been handled with child gloves by the governor of the state and we see it as a transfer to advertise ethnic struggle between the Ijaws and its neighbours within the state.
“The Ijaw nation will and can’t fold their arms when their little children’ lives and property are below extreme assault by different ethnic teams.”
Alaye alleged that the council was additionally conscious of prime politicians who’re indigenes of Eket and Esit Eket utilizing their affect to attempt to manipulate the reconciliation of the conflicts.
Alaye famous: “The pointless roadblock alongside the 2 entry roads that hyperlink to Ibeno by way of Eket and Esit Eket by the 2 communities on the twenty sixth of February, proscribing motion backward and forward to Ibeno affected Ibeno Fish market, ExxonMobil Operations web site in Ibeno and BUA refinery web site as commuters had been completely restricted.
“Moreover; an assault was additionally launched on Ibeno Labour and Income Activity Pressure staff and their tents had been burnt down by youths from Eket and Esit Eket who departed the scene after finishing up the assault.
“Remapping of native authorities areas shouldn’t be inside the powers of a state authorities and as such the Ijaw nation won’t ever settle for any politically motivated remapping and additional balkanization of our individuals for no matter causes.”
