By Ebilade Ekerefe
As a patriotic Ijaw son, I have been following up the reactions following the statement credited to Chief Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Hon Minister of FCT, wherein, he alluded that the Ijaws are minorities in the Niger Delta region during his recent press interview.
While I was expecting a more coordinated approach from our socio-cultural institutions like the INC and IYC to address a joint press conference, stating the historical facts of our dominance in the Niger Delta region, we rather allowed his distractions to take a toll on us, while he was putting his strategies in place.
We resorted to emotional outburst and reined abuses at anyone whose thoughts doesn’t align with ours. We reacted spontaneously without proper planning.
The worst of it was publicly making threats to blow up pipelines and we ignorantly fell into their trap to justify a declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. Whether the Commander-in-Chief has the constitutional powers to unilaterally suspend a democratically elected government is subject to judicial interpretation and we all can preempt the courts as presently constituted.
My point is that fighting a course without strategy and tact will amount to nothing. This is however sending a wrong signal that we are a people so disorganized and with no strong socio-cultural and political leadership that we can rely on in moments of moral crisis.
I think it’s high time we go into retrospect and retool our strategy.
STATE OF EMERGENCY AND GOV. SIM’s FAITH HANGING IN THE BALANCE:
The political crisis in Rivers state has taken a dramatic twist after the declaration of a state of emergency and all democratically elected officials suspended for initial Six months.
While Gov. SIM is undoubtedly an Ijaw son who deserves the support and solidarity from Ijaws across the world, I believe strongly that we should adopt a more tactful and strategic approach in finding a lasting solution to the political conflict between Wike and Fubara, especially with this six months window.
Violent threats and confrontation is old fashioned and does not serve as a solution to the political conundrum that has bedeviled the once peaceful Rivers State.
The solution to the crisis as I’ve always maintained is a political solution and we should be broad minded in embarking on constructive dialogue with all parties involved. In doing so, I employ us to be dispassionate, knowing that we are not preview to the undercurrents of the crisis before it escalated.
I strongly believe that forgiveness and reconciliation is still possible if we apply the right languages going forward.
IJAW NATION AND THE TIME FOR POLITICAL DIRECTION:
This is not the time for the political leadership of the Ijaw nation to sit at the fence, especially now that Pa Clark is late. This is the time to prove leadership and not to abdicate from responsibilities.
It is not a moment to be silent when our place in history is been challenged.
The Governor General is the political leader of the Ijaw people across the world and he must rise up to the occasion in challenging times like this.
I propose an emergency leadership meeting made up of very distinguished Ijaw leaders and respected traditional rulers be summoned in the Jerusalem of the Ijaw nation and come up with far reaching resolutions.
This is a national imperative and it’s a call to duty. The INC and the IYC can not do it alone considering the division and disunity amongst us.
CONCLUSION
Sadly, there’s a perception that the Ijaw nation has been subjugated and our leaders have become puppets to external political forces because of their personal interest.
While I don’t have any problem with someone or group of people seeking for support to actualize their political aspirations or economic survival, failing to draw the line when there is a perceived existential threat will amount to cowardice.
Wether we like it or not, everybody will die one day, but how you die in moments of crisis will determine if history will absolve you.
Ekerefe is the Ex Spokesman of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide
