‘Stop Branding Ijaw Riverine Communities As Election Rigging Den’ – N’Delta Activist Warns

Prominent Niger Delta activist and spokesperson of Gbaramatu Traditional Rulers Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama has warned political actors to stop portraying Ijaw communities, particularly Delta Ijaw riverine local government councils as election rigging flash points.

Gbenekama who said he has been inundated with news reports and calls after the presidential and national assembly elections, frowned at claims and counter claims that elections were massively rigged in those part of the state.

He said that the alleged claims which is to, according to him, disenfranchise the Ijaw people have fuelled heavy militarization of Ijaw communities which apparently are left with little or no government presence.

Gbenekama who reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari directives to
security chiefs to send additional military personnel to the Niger Delta, and Ijaw land before the gubernatorial elections, said that the action had only heightened tension in the Delta waterways instead of resolving the issues of security raised at the APC town hall meeting.

“More worrisome is the unguided speech by a  youth during the recent town hall meeting held in Effurun, where he called on the  President to send security men to some riverine local governments areas in Delta state”, he said.

Speaking in a telephone conversation with BIGPEN ONLINE, Gbenekama said that it was not true, according to reports that Bomadi, Burutu and Warri South West are local governments areas where militants assist the PDP to rig elections.

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“May I state here categorically that this statement made by the said youth is very far from the truth, whilst I cannot totally vouch for some other areas of the Niger Delta because of reports that some people were killed in some areas like the Governor Dickson’s state house photographer who was killed in Beyelsa state in controversial circumstances.

Specifically, he said that there was no major incident of electoral violence throughout Warri South West and particularly Gbaramatu Kingdom in the last Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections.

“There was real peace during the presidential elections in Warri South West, it was very peaceful both in Ijaw and Itsekiri areas, he maintained.

The activist said that the claims of rigging in the area was from those who are out to cause crisis in the area, saying, “As far as some of us are concerned, the call to further heavily militarise the Niger Delta is a call to crisis and we would refuse crisis in all its ramifications in the Niger Delta no matter who wants to gain from it.

“Further worrisome is the fact that, since 2015, when this present government came into power, the Niger Delta and particularly Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South West, have been over militarised. Within every two three kilometres, there is a military houseboat all over Warri South West local government area.

“In Gbaramatu especially, in every three kilometres, there would be a pair of houseboat, one for the navy, another for the army across the length and breadth of the kingdom.

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“Any one demanding that more military men be sent to our communities does not wish us well as the APC have by their actions. It means, there is a grand design to oppress, subdue and subjugate our people”, he contended.

“We are at peace here, the heavy presence of the military as demanded by the APC would not bring any peace but confusion and rancour.

“What is the wisdom in sending military to a peaceful area when Nigeria has its hands full already with fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram killing people at will.

“The military and the President should direct their energy at those places.The President should know that he is the President of the whole country, that is why he has the legitimacy to preside over the crude and gas that is found in my father’s backyard”.

The Fiyewei of Gbaramatu kingdom said that despite the calculated attempt to disenfranchise his people, the paramount ruler of the area, His Royal Oboro Gbaraun 11, Aketakpe Agadagba, The Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom “have directed that we must ensure that we maintain the existing peace, so that we do not give the security agents the opportunity to manhandle us whose training and calling is killing of criminals,that is why they go about with guns to scare and ‘deal ruthlessly with ‘criminals’.

Meanwhile, Gbenekama who also spoke about the power rotation pattern of the PDP in the state, called on Urhobos to allow Delta North have a complete eight years of office.

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He said, “I have seen in recent times many groups endorsing one candidate or the other, I also want to say that those in Delta Central should try and be their brothers keeper.There is an unwritten understanding in Delta state where Governors are rotated around the three Senatorial zones.

“The last two came from Delta central and Delta south respectively. An Urhobo man, Chief James Ibori from Delta central and then Dr. Emmanuel Udughan an Itsekiri from Delta south. Ijaws who are one of the largest ethnic nationalities are patiently waiting for their turn, so also are the Isokos of Delta south. It is disturbing to hear youths of fourteen Urhobo Clans from Delta central endorsing a candidate from Delta central. Have we jettisoned the gentle man agreement of rotation?, he queried.

Gbenekama however warns, “Trust me, any Senatorial district that destabilise this arrangement should not expect others to respect the same arrangement when they feel it’s their turn. We would not vote for any district that go against this gentleman agreement when the rotation favours them. Am therefore calling on Urhobo leaders to ensure that the right thing is done” he added.