Akure—The people of Furupagha-Ijaw Kingdom in Odigbo Council area of Ondo State have decried their exclusion from the developmental programmes of the Niger Delta Developmental Commission (NDDC) and other developmental agencies, Vanguard newspaper reports.
Hon. Emmanuel Odushu, the Ibe- Okusuwei/Opo-Odusu of Furupagha-Ijaw Kingdom, in a statement acknowledged the efforts of the Akeredolu administration specifically in road construction, rehabilitation and dualisation across the State.
Odushu called on the state government to construct the Asejire-Iyaradina-Ebijaw road which would connect the kingdom to the rest of the state and by extension the country.
He pleaded with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to do the needful and ensure that going forward, Furupagha-Ijaw Kingdom is not excluded in projects distribution, which he said they are entitled to.
According to him, ”Furupagha-Ijaw is a large area of riverine and land communities which constitute the Ebijaw Ward and others in the riverine and Niger Delta areas of the Odigbo Local Government Area.
“Communities in Furupagha-Ijaw, include, Ebijaw, Iyaradina, Temewei-Zion, Taribo, Gbenuwei, Otumaragbene, Niakemiama, Odushuama, Ukuregbene, Abadigbene, Kofoama, Makporo, Ikiodoama, Jameskiri, Ugoyeghaama, Ugboama, Sokoroama and Yenemogbene.
“Others are, Sule, Ladosa, Odokoro, Obajare, Itamerin Bolounduro, Aba Sule, Obasasa, Okunrin, Oladapo Orisunmbare, Owosunmomi, Rubber Estate, with the ancestral headquarters at Iyaradina which is strategically located among the communities.”
Odushu further gave historical facts about the kingdom, saying that “the Furupagha-Ijaw enjoyed independent political existence from time immemorial.
“They enjoyed political independence until the15th century, when they met the Portuguese with whom they enjoyed extensive trade relationships in their communities along the Siloko River and the adjoining creeks.
He continued, “the creation of provinces in 1915, as part of the British colonial administration, balkanised the Furupagha-Ijaw between the Benin and Ondo Provinces, using the Siloko and Owena Rivers as boundaries.”
According to the community leader, Furupagha-Ijaw is the third Ijaw group in Ondo State, along side the Apoi and Arogbo Ijaws of Ese-Odo Local Government.
He maintained that before the creation of Ondo State, Furupagha-Ijaw was in the same environment as the Arogbo Ijaw, the Ijaw-Apoi and the Yoruba Ilaje.
Odushu lamented “the inexplicable exclusion” of the Furupagha-Ijaws from government programmes, through the NDDC, Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), the Amnesty programme and other developmental programmes.
He congratulated Governor Akeredolu and his Deputy on their recent victory at the Supreme Court.
According to him, their victory is a veritable proof of his popularity with the people of Ondo and an endorsement of his mandate.
He also pleaded with the state government to formally approve the appointment of the traditional ruler of Furupagha-Ijaw Kingdom.
