The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has expressed concerns about the proposed remapping exercise initiated by the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, stating that it is fostering ethnic rivalry between the Ijaw people in the Ibeno Local Government Area and neighboring communities of Eket and Esit Eket in Akwa Ibom State.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the National President of IYC, Theophilus Alaye, called on the federal government to intervene and caution the Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Umo Uni, regarding the potential unrest that may arise from the remapping in the oil-producing region.
Alaye emphasized that the remapping of local government areas falls outside the jurisdiction of a state government. He warned that the Ijaw nation would vehemently reject any politically motivated remapping and any attempt to further divide the people for any reason.
The IYC President alleged that the threats against the Ijaw people in the affected local government were a clear menace to the existence of the Ijaw tribe in the state.
Alaye noted: “The attention of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has been drawn to the ongoing unrest in Akwa Ibom State which has put the lives of the Ijaw people of Ibeno Local government Area of Akwa Ibom State in danger.
“We wish to state categorically that this avoidable crisis created by the proposed remapping exercise engineered by the then Governor of Akwa Ibom state His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel is producing that unfortunate result of destruction of properties and loss of lives in the Ijaw communities in the state.
“It is worthy of note that the people of Eket allocated Ibeno lands to themselves while the land in question is before a court and there is an injunction restricting them from accessing the land.
“These provocative actions have been treated with kid gloves by the governor of the state and we see it as a move to promote ethnic war between the Ijaws and its neighbours in the state.
“The Ijaw nation will and cannot fold their arms when their sons and daughters’ lives and property are under severe attack by other ethnic groups.”
Alaye alleged that the council was also aware of top politicians who are indigenes of Eket and Esit Eket using their influence to try to manipulate the reconciliation of the conflicts.
Alaye noted: “The unnecessary roadblock along the two access roads that link to Ibeno via Eket and Esit Eket by the two communities on the 26th of February, restricting movement to and fro to Ibeno affected Ibeno Fish market, ExxonMobil Operations site in Ibeno and BUA refinery site as commuters were totally restricted.
“Furthermore; an attack was also launched on Ibeno Labour and Revenue Task Force workers and their tents were burnt down by youths from Eket and Esit Eket who departed the scene after carrying out the attack.
“Remapping of local government areas is not within the powers of a state government and as such the Ijaw nation will never accept any politically motivated remapping and further balkanization of our people for whatever reasons.”
