{"id":4384,"date":"2025-07-12T17:26:27","date_gmt":"2025-07-12T17:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/12\/ijaws-are-not-breaking-away-from-nigeria-with-any-group-or-nationality-says-gbenekama-as-he-charges-yorubas-to-exclude-ijaws-from-their-oduduwa-republic\/"},"modified":"2025-07-12T17:27:38","modified_gmt":"2025-07-12T17:27:38","slug":"ijaws-are-not-breaking-away-from-nigeria-with-any-group-or-nationality-says-gbenekama-as-he-charges-yorubas-to-exclude-ijaws-from-their-oduduwa-republic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/12\/ijaws-are-not-breaking-away-from-nigeria-with-any-group-or-nationality-says-gbenekama-as-he-charges-yorubas-to-exclude-ijaws-from-their-oduduwa-republic\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cIjaws Are Not Breaking Away From Nigeria With Any Group Or Nationality\u201d Says Gbenekama, As He Charges Yorubas To Exclude Ijaws From Their Oduduwa Republic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Freeborn Abraye <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ijaws have denounced and rejected the alleged infusion and inclusion of the ethnic nationality into the proposed map of Yoruba\u2019s Oduduwa Republic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A national daily had, last weekend, published an interview with elder statesman and chieftain of the Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, stating that the Yoruba were ready to break away from the Nigerian contraption if the country is not restructured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this disclosure as well as the alleged annexation of some parts of Ijaw territories in the proposed map of the Oduduwa Republic did not go down well with the acting secretary of the Gbaramatu Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama and a coalition of civil society groups, the Pan Niger Delta Civil Society Groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In separate statements issued by Chief Gbenekama and the coalition of the rights groups and made available to journalists in Warri on Tuesday, they said Ijaws should be excluded from the proposed map of Oduduwa Republic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an angry tone, Chief Gbenekama retorted, \u201c\u2026we are not and cannot be part of any Oduduwa Republic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Izon people, we are distinct and uniquely different from the Yoruba people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a bid to break away from Nigeria, no tribe or group no matter how well connected and powerful it is should think they can annex us to make themselves economically viable should there be a break-up in Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A careful study of the said Oduduwa Republic map shows that most Izon land from Ondo State to the boundary of Bayelsa State has been included in the Oduduwa Republic map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an insult to the Izon nation which has its own distinct identity with no affiliation with Oduduwa people except for the Lord Lugard\u2019s forced union or contraption called Nigeria which brought us together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While describing the publications as malicious, wicked and capable of causing disharmony among neighbouring ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, Gbenekama declared that \u201cwe are not breaking away from Nigeria with any other group or nationality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to him, in the event of the dissolution of the federation, the Izon people, given their population and land mass, will stand on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking in the same vein, Dickson Bekederemo, President, NIGER-DELTA Security Watch organization (NDSWON); Comrade Austin Ozobo, National President, Ijaw People\u2019s Development Initiative, (IPDI) and Alaowei Cleric Esq., National President, Foundation For Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade, (FHRACC), in the joint statement, described the purported inclusion of some Niger Delta territories in the map as a misapplication of facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile we do not oppose anybody seeking to break away from Nigeria as such is our unalienable rights, we wish to question the rationale behind annexing other people\u2019s territories to form your republic?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The map therein captured the various kingdoms in Delta State, Warri precisely and part of Bayelsa State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We believe that this is a misapplication of fact as Niger Delta region was never and can never be part of the purported Oduduwa Republic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will not allow anybody seeking to secede from Nigeria to use the Niger Delta as the battle ground to prosecute his intention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have clear and undisputed boundaries with our neighbours in the country and we are able and up to the task to assert our rights when the need arises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niger Deltans will resist with all vigour, any move to use the region as the launch pad by the Yorubas or any other region to secure their aims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our people have made our points known to the Nigerian government through the declarations of the various ethnic nationalities in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niger Deltans pledge their allegiance to the Ogoni Bill of Right, the Kaiama Declaration, the Ikwerres, Isokos, Uhrobos, Itsekiris and all other Declarations by the various ethnic groups in the region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Freeborn Abraye The Ijaws have denounced and rejected the alleged infusion and inclusion of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4385,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[13],"tags":[1163,1164],"class_list":["post-4384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-ijaws-are-not-breaking-away-from-nigeria-with-any-group-or-nationality-says-gbenekama","tag-as-he-charges-yorubas-to-exclude-ijaws-from-their-oduduwa-republic"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0832-2-1.jpg?fit=971%2C569&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1279,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2022\/01\/10\/inc-spokesman-oyakemegbegha-reacts-over-remark-by-gov-wike-says-ijaws-will-not-be-distracted-in-the-struggle-for-niger-delta-emancipation\/","url_meta":{"origin":4384,"position":0},"title":"INC Spokesman Oyakemegbegha Reacts To Remark By Gov Wike, Says Ijaws Will Not Be Distracted In The Struggle For Niger Delta Emancipation","author":"Coastal Times","date":"January 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Coastal News Engr. Ezonebi Oyakemegbegha, Spokesman Ijaw National Congress. The Publicity Secretary of the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Engr Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, has reiterated the commitment of the body to sustaining the struggle for the emancipation of the Ijaws and Niger Delta\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/img-20220110-wa0009-1.jpg?fit=1066%2C1066&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/img-20220110-wa0009-1.jpg?fit=1066%2C1066&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/img-20220110-wa0009-1.jpg?fit=1066%2C1066&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/img-20220110-wa0009-1.jpg?fit=1066%2C1066&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/img-20220110-wa0009-1.jpg?fit=1066%2C1066&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3112,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2024\/09\/20\/do-not-cast-your-votes-for-political-jobbers-western-zone-iyc-charges-ijaws-in-edo-says-obaseki-failed-ijaws-in-the-state\/","url_meta":{"origin":4384,"position":1},"title":"\u201cDo Not Cast Your Votes For Political Jobbers\u201d Western Zone IYC Charges Ijaws In Edo, Says Obaseki Failed Ijaws In The State","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"September 20, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye As pressure mounts towards the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone has labelled the outgoing governor, Godwin Obaseki a failure. The IYC Western Zone Chairman, Nicholas Igarama, described Obaseki as a man who did not keep to his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fec7ac05-e14e-42aa-8709-fb7196c0ee3a-2-1-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C833&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fec7ac05-e14e-42aa-8709-fb7196c0ee3a-2-1-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C833&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fec7ac05-e14e-42aa-8709-fb7196c0ee3a-2-1-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C833&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fec7ac05-e14e-42aa-8709-fb7196c0ee3a-2-1-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C833&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fec7ac05-e14e-42aa-8709-fb7196c0ee3a-2-1-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C833&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4671,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/16\/just-in-iyc-calls-on-federal-government-to-caution-the-sheriff-oborevwori-led-delta-state-government-over-an-inviting-publication-says-itsekiris-are-not-majority-in-warri-north-lga\/","url_meta":{"origin":4384,"position":2},"title":"JUST IN: IYC Calls On Federal Government To Caution Sheriff Oborevwori Led Delta State Government Over Inciting Publication, Says Itsekiris Are Not Majority In Warri North LGA","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Esther David The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, ably led by Comrade Nicholas Igarama in strong terms, condemns the recent declaration by the Delta State Government that the Itsekiri ethnic Nationality being the predominant tribe in Warri North Local Government Area. Ordinarily, the Council would have discarded such\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1933-3-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1933-3-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1933-3-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C684&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1933-3-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C684&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4411,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/14\/group-makes-rebuttal-to-publication-made-by-itsekiri-historical-front-says-the-great-lies-of-warri-will-be-exposed\/","url_meta":{"origin":4384,"position":3},"title":"Group Makes Rebuttal To Publication Made By Itsekiri Historical Front, Says The Great Lies Of Warri Will Be Exposed","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin THE GREAT LIES OF WARRI EXPOSED: A REBUTTAL TO THE DECEITFUL ITSEKIRI HISTORICAL FRONT Issued by: Ijaw Stakeholders of Warri Federal ConstituencyDate: July 13, 2025 Let it be made abundantly clear: the Itsekiri Historical Front\u2019s rejoinder dated July 13, 2025, is a glaring act of historical distortion,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0886-1.jpg?fit=244%2C206&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2541,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2024\/06\/17\/okoloba-okuama-crisis-western-zone-iyc-writes-gov-oborevwori-says-ijaws-are-also-victims\/","url_meta":{"origin":4384,"position":4},"title":"OKOLOBA\/OKUAMA CRISIS: Western Zone IYC Writes Gov Oborevwori, Says Ijaws Are Also Victims","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"June 17, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Coastal Times The Ijaw Youth Council, Western Zone, has urged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to be magnanimous in his attempts to provide succour to victims of the lingering crisis between Okoloba and Okuama communities. The youth body lamented over the failure of the Delta State Government to pay attention to the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Crime"","block_context":{"text":"Crime","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/crime\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4845,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/09\/26\/open-letter-to-inec-exposing-itsekiri-falsehoods-and-demanding-publication-of-the-final-ward-delineation-result\/","url_meta":{"origin":4384,"position":5},"title":"Open Letter To INEC: Exposing Itsekiri Falsehoods And Demanding Publication Of The Final Ward Delineation Result","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"September 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin To:The Chairman,Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),Abuja, Nigeria. Subject: Exposing Falsehoods and Calling for Immediate Publication of the Warri Federal Constituency Ward Delineation Result Introduction We, the Concerned Elders of Warri Federal Constituency, write with urgency and righteous indignation. The continued delay by INEC in publishing the final\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0668-2-1.jpg?fit=235%2C214&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-18I","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4384","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4384"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4384\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4386,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4384\/revisions\/4386"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4385"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}