The Existing Gaps In The Contemporary Ijaw Struggle And The Way Forward
By Wisdom Ikuli – Ijaw people belong to very special species of humans. Like the Jews, they are blessed beyond human measures.
Beyond the fact that Ijaws are the first people that had direct encounter with the European explorers and adventurers as early as the 12th century, abundant natural resources like palm oil, timber, and others from Ijaw land helped to build the European economy during the respective European Industrial Revolutions.
Ijaws played very active roles during the slave trade era. There were Ijaw slave merchants like King Jaja of Opobo, a former slave boy and others, the same way a lot of handsome, beautiful, and very healthy, able-bodied Ijaw sons and daughters were sold into slavery.
Since the first discovery of crude oil and gas in commercial quantities and quality at Otabagi-Oloibiri, an Ijaw community in 1956 which was the first in the whole of West Africa, Ijaw Nation started feeding the whole of Nigeria.
The first Nationalist struggle for the independence of Nigeria was started by an Ijaw man, Chief Ernest Sisei Ikoli alongside his friend, Sir Herbert Macaulay, before we talk about the second generation of nationalists like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, High Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Joseph Tarka, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sarduana of Sokoto, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and others.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo confirmed that Chief Ernest Sisei Ikoli was his master. Unfortunately, Chief Ikoli died immediately after the independence of Nigeria. He never lived to see the prosperity and greatness of the country he fought for.
Many do not know that it was two illustrious sons of Ijaw land, High Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye and Chief (Sen.) Dr Melford Obiene Okilo that helped to facilitate a political alliance between the Niger Delta Congress (NDC) and the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) that led to the formation of the First National Government in Nigeria.
In the area of education, Ijaws have been at the forefront of education. Ijaws are some of the best brains in the world.
Many do not know that an Ijaw man, Late Prof. Lawrence Ekpebu from Bayelsa State is the first Black Graduate of Harvard University.
The Sir Henry Willink Commission Report of 1959 which is the first census that carried out in Nigeria and the American Embassy in Nigeria Report of 2012, designated and reaffirmed Ijaw as the fourth largest tribe in Nigeria, respectively.
In terms of political leadership, Ijaw has some of the best leaders as examplified by President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Douye Diri, Gov. Siminalayi Fubara and others at the global, national, and state levels.
Ijaw has some of the most creative and highly resourceful minds.
We can go on and on to mention the giant strides of Ijaws. But the problem or question is why are Ijaws relegated to the background?
Why are Ijaws denigrated?
Why are Ijaws described or seen as lazy, unproductive people?
Why were Ijaws hitherto described decades ago as people who lived on top of mangroves and fed on human flesh like cannibals?
The answers are very simple.
We are in a very selfish, greedy, and competitive world where every human, community, clan, kingdom, tribe, religion, empire, emirate, and nation are all trying to outsmart each other.
We can liken it to a trumpet blowing competition. No right thinking person will expect others to abandon their trumpets. Each must learn how to blow their own trumpet.
If you don’t tell your own story, others will do it in a doctored and mutilated way.
China is a classic example here.
For decades, China, as a communist state, was isolated from the rest of the world.
At a point, the ruling party in China assembled a group of consultants to proffer solution to the issue of isolation in a globalized system, where world powers are struggling for dominance.
One of the major problems that the special team identified was China’s poor media presence in the world.
Communication is the core of human existence, and we can attest to its efficacy in the story of creation in the book of Genesis 1-2, where God said “Let there be Light” and even when He consulted the other persons in the Holy Trinity, when He said “Let Us make man in our image and likeness”.
Over the years, it has been discovered that information, communication, and security are the greatest and most vital assets of every country.
Look at the United States of America, the world policeman for instance, it is strong because of her military might and proper usage of information and communication. America uses propaganda to rule the world.
The findings of the consultants that were assembled by China led to the establishment of several highly fortified media platforms including the China Global Television Network (CGTN).
These outstanding platforms air and broadcast in all the major languages in the world.
They project China as the best designation in the world. Overtime, they succeeded in changing the negative narratives about China. Today, they even bring China to our homes.
Today, everyone want to visit China for tourism, business, education, and other purposes.
Another practical example about the power of communication is the fact that if someone stays in a room and shares a Billion Naira without telling people about it, there is the likelihood that such kind gesture will not be known to many because most of the beneficiaries will behave like Catholic Communicants after receiving Holy Communion. You are not expected to open your mouth or talk immediately after Communion until after your personal prayers after Communion.
On the other hand, someone gives out far smaller amount of money to people and publicize it. It is the later’s benevolence and goodwill that will definitely be acknowledged.
When was the last time that we put Ijaw story at the global scene?
What story do our neighbours who deliberately doctor and mutilate our story tell them at the global scene?
We must remember that there is no morality in international politics, and it is often replicated locally, too.
Late Barr. Oronto Natein Douglas told Ijaw story at the global scene. We witnessed how a serving American President formally invited him to the White House because of Ijaw story.
Who is telling Ijaw story at the international arena today or we assume that the international community should know our story?
Can’t we tell Ijaw story in BBC News, CNN, Al Jazeera, FOX News, CCTV/CGTN, SKY News, Bloomberg Television, France 24, Netflix, HBO, NBC, CBS, Discovery Channel, Associated Press (AP), Reuters and other international platforms?
Why have we accepted the stereotype and profiling as violent, armed militants?
We have the best brains in Ijaw Nation to do excellent job for our great people. Our greatest problem is our very faulty leadership recruitment processes that does not allow for the emergence of brains that will help us coordinate, assemble, and harness our best brains for distinguishing service to the Ijaw Nation.
Moving forward, i am offering myself for service as the National Publicity Secretary of the most revered IJAW NATIONAL CONGRESS (INC). My election will help to change the negative narratives about the Ijaw Nation.
As a renowned author, trained researcher, security strategist, defence expert, security administrator, journalist, human and environmental rights activist, nonviolence practitioner, and public analyst, I have the capacity and capability to harness the best brains and intellectual resources and reservoirs to change the narrative.
Finally, Ijaw Nation must know our Worthy Ambassadors especially those who are entrusted with the responsibility to tell our story to the world.
An Ambassador is a representative of a brand and the quality of every Ambassador speaks volume about the brand they represent.
COMRADE WISDOM ONIEKPAR IKULI (JP) that is desirous to serve the Ijaw Nation as National Publicity Secretary of the most revered Ijaw National Congress (INC) has the following academic qualifications;
1. Bachelor Degree in Sociology (University of Port Harcourt)
2. Bachelor Degree in Political Science (Niger Delta University)
3. Postgraduate Diploma in Education (University of Illorin)
4. Master Degree in Strategy and Security Administration (Nigerian Defence Academy NDA Postgraduate School)
5. Master of Philosophy in Defence and Security Studies (Nigerian Defence Academy NDA Postgraduate School)
6. Doctor of Philosophy in Defence and Security Studies in-view (Nigerian Defence Academy NDA Postgraduate School
OTHER CERTIFICATES
1. Certificate in Nonviolence Practice (University of Rhode Island, USA)
2. Certificate in Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising (International Institute of Journalism affiliate of University of Maiduguri)
BOOKS AUTHORED
1. Youth Digest: Practical Solutions to Youth Restiveness and Social Vices in the Niger Delta (2007).
2. General Sani Abacha and the Contemporary Ijaw Nation (2010).
3. Neo-Ijawism and the Journey So Far (2012).
4. Fundamentals of the Niger Delta Struggle: The Ijaw Youth Council Perspective (2022).
