JULY 9TH (URHOBOTODAY)- Major ethnic nationalities in the South-South region have disassociated themselves from the call for 10 federating units for Nigeria as proposed by Ijaw National Congress (INC), and have also risen against the call for Ijaw region.
In a statement, Ibibio, Ikwere, Itsekiri, Isoko and Benin ethnic nationalities of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, and Edo states described the position of INC as a Frankestein monster.
They said if the ethnic nationalities in the South-South were already suffocating under the political weight of the Ijaw in the current dispensation, the creation of Ijaw region, including their ethnic nationalities, will be a nightmare.
Speaking during a meeting at the palace of the Ntisong of Ibibio in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Ethnic Nationalities of the Niger Delta said: “One of the proposed 10 federating units is the Niger Delta Region depicted in the map as Ijaw region.
“The proposed Ijaw Region includes territories belonging to the Ibibio of Akwa Ibom State; Ikwerre of Rivers State; Isoko, Itsekiri and Urhobo of Delta State; Bini of Edo State and Ilaje of Ondo State.”
They also condemned what they described as the unprovoked and barbaric attacks on some Itsekiri communities in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, which led to the loss of lives and destruction of property, calling on the Federal Government to bring those behind the dastard act to book.
The group also expressed concern over the alleged illegal acquisition of firearms and ammunition within the region, which it linked to increase in illegal bunkering and oil theft, and called on the government of President Goodluck Johnathan to intervene to stem the possibility of an escalation into a regional crisis.
Source: Vanguard