President, IYC Worldwide, Pereotubo Oweilaemi, Esq., in a statement made available to journalists in Warri on Thursday, decried the ill-treatment allegedly meted out on some Ijaw traditional rulers who had set out to attend the coronation of the Pete of Olodiama kingdom on Tuesday.
Reacting to a statement issued by the Edo State government on Wednesday on the coronation, Oweilaemi described it as “provocative, infamous, childish and ill-conceived,” that was short of reasons why the coronation of the Olodiama king was criminal.
He accused the Edo State of partisanship and fuelling crisis that may turn out bloody if not quickly nibbed in the bud.
“The circular issued by the Government of Edo State in condemning the historic coronation of the Pere of Olodiama Kingdom in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the State is provocative.
“Such statement which is clearly an invitation to anarchy is not supposed to be coming from a state government whose duty is to secure lives and property.
“The Edo State Government should not play partisan politics in the land disputes brewing between the Ijaws in the State and the Bini Kingdom.
“The Oba of Benin kicked against the coronation of Olodiama King which has nearly resulted in a bloody clash between the Binis and the Ijaws of Edo State.
“The same thing also led to the embarrassment of our revered first class Kings led by HRM, Oboro Gbaraun II, the Agadagba of Gbaramatu Kingdom on their way to the Ijaw Kingdom in Edo State whose Royal entourage was illegally and unconstitutionally obstructed by soldiers acting on the instructions of the Bini King.
“The ancient Olodiama Kingdom has been in existence for centuries in that part of the Country. This is not their first Kingdom.
“The Edo State Government in its infamous, childish and ill-conceived circular has not given any reason why it is criminalising the coronation of Olodiama King.
“Suffice to say that it’s acting for the whims and caprices of the Bini King who never want to see the existence of Ijaw Kingdoms in the State. Governor Godwin Obaseki should be wary of his actions.
“His clear partisanship in the age-long land dispute between the Bini Kingdom and the Ijaws in the Edo State is a clear violation of his oath of office.
“He should remember that he has sworn an oath to protect lives and property in the State.
“The Ijaw nation will not fold its arm and allow the Edo State Government led by Godwin Obaseki and the land-grabbing Bini Kingdom to wipe out the Ijaws in the State from planet earth.
“No law in Nigeria that has forbidden the Ijaws to live and practice their customs in their fatherland.
“Since their Lands have been criminally balkanised into Edo State, the Government is Constitutionally bound to give them equal treatments.
“The so-called Chieftaincy law the Government is relying on to cover up its ethnic agenda is even at variance with the Government’s circular. What a show of gross ineptitude?
“How can a law bar traditional institutions from installing King that has chosen by the people? Is it Obaseki or the Bini King that is empowered by the said law to choose who is supposed to be king in any Kingdom in Edo State?
“We believe that Governor Obaseki knows the implication of what he is doing. If he likes let him lead the battle to the Olodiama Kingdom, the Ijaw nation will not cede an inch of our Lands to the Bini Kingdom.
“The lands occupied by the Ijaws in Edo State is where God has placed them and they cannot leave their Lands for any trespassers even if it means to kill all of them.
“IYC hereby call on President Mohammadu Buhari to immediately prevail on Godwin Obaseki before the whole thing leads to ethnic crisis.
“The Edo State Government’s condemnation of the coronation of Olodiama King in the State as contained in the said vexatious circular signed by the Secretary to the State Government has created tension in the area.
“Should there be any breakdown of law and order, Governor Obaseki and its ethnic chauvinists in the State Government be held responsible.”
TribuneOnline had reported that soldiers allegedly barricaded the access road to Olodiama kingdom Monday night ahead of Tuesday’s coronation of a new king after some years of interregnum.
Tension had heightened on Tuesday morning as some traditional rulers from other Ijaw kingdoms including that of Gbaramatu kingdom whose royal entourage was allegedly obstructed by soldiers while on their way to Olodiama kingdom in Edo State.
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