The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has said the proposed remapping exercise by the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel was creating an ethnic rivalry between the Ijaw people in the Ibeno Local government area and the neighbouring communities of Eket and Esit Eket in Akwa Ibom State.
IYC National President, Theophilus Alaye, in a statement issued Wednesday, called on the federal government to call the governor of Akwa-Ibom state, Umo Uni to order over the possible unrest the remapping would cause in the oil-producing area.
Alaye said remapping of local government areas was not within the purview of a state government, warning that the Ijaw nation would never accept any politically motivated remapping and further balkanization of the people for whatever reasons.
He alleged that the threats against Ijaw people in the affected local government were a clear threat 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 actually 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.”
