- Ijaw National Congress President Slams Wike: Professor Benjamin Okaba criticizes Nyesom Wike for labeling the Ijaws a minority, calling him a “careless speaker.”
- Ijaws Assert Their Position: Okaba insists the Ijaws are one of Nigeria’s four largest ethnic groups, disputing census data that downplays their population.
- Political Tensions Rise in Rivers State: Okaba accuses Wike of distorting facts for political gain, warning of potential consequences for governance in the Niger Delta.
Professor Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), has strongly criticized Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, for his recent comments about the Ijaw ethnic group.
Okaba described Wike as a “careless speaker” who often makes reckless statements.
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This follows Wike’s claim that the Ijaws are a minority ethnic group in Nigeria, made during a press briefing on his political dispute with Siminalayi Fubara, his successor as Rivers State Governor.
Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on April 2, 2025, Okaba rejected Wike’s assertion, insisting that the Ijaws are one of Nigeria’s four largest ethnic groups.
“The person you’re referring to (Wike) could say anything and later retract it; he’s an extremely careless speaker,” Okaba said.
He emphasized that the Ijaw people’s influence extends across Nigeria’s riverine regions, arguing that census data has historically misrepresented their true population.
“We are not a minority. In fact, we are the largest and most indigenous ethnic group in the Niger Delta,” he said.
Beyond Bayelsa State, Okaba noted, the Ijaws have significant populations in Abia, Delta, Edo, Ondo, and Rivers states. In Abia, there are 26 Ijaw communities, while in Rivers, they are indigenous to over ten local government areas.
He accused Wike of distorting historical and demographic facts for political gain and urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that no individual undermines Nigeria’s democratic stability.
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The growing tension between Wike and Ijaw leaders underscores the political crisis in Rivers State, which could have significant consequences for governance in the Niger Delta region.
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