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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The Ijaw Patriotic Movement (IPM), a socio-cultural group that cuts across the Niger Delta states, has expressed the need for the Ijaw nation to harness every available means to ensure that it has a “common socio-ultra identity,” as well as establish its role as “a concrete custodian of Ijaw heritage,” as other ethnic nationalities like the Yorubas, Igbos and the Hausas.
President of IPM, Comrade Mislaw Genren who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Yenagoa during the preparation for the inauguration of the body’s national executives, slated to hold on September 7, 2024.
The new executive comprises the national president, general secretary, Central Zone chairman, Bassan Clan chairman, Gbaranmatu Clan chairman, Bomo ibe Clan chairman, Western and Eastern zones chairmen
Mislaw Genren noted that the time has come for all Ijaws both at home and in diaspora to come together and have a common king, a common language and the celebration of Ijaw national day, emphasizing that this will go a long way in closing the gap that has caused a lot of disunity among Ijaws.
He also pointed out that IPM came into existence in October, 2017 with a responsibility to develop policies and programmes that would lead to the unity and oneness of the Ijaw race, stressing that the Ijaws are recognized as the fourth ethnic nationality in the country, and should demonstrate the spirit of togetherness for the overall socio-economic development of the Ijaw-speaking states.
He particularly expressed his heartfelt gratitude to other notable Ijaw bodies like the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and the Movement for the Sovereignty of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality (MOSIEND) for thier unrelenting efforts in projecting Ijaw struggles over the years by bringing peace and harmony among Ijaws despite thier different languages and cultures.
The IPM President reiterated that the body is not in any way in competition with INC, IYC and MOSIEND but rather, it is poised to play a complimentary role by further expanding the frontiers of the Ijaw race to the next level of development, noting that the core Ijaw and non-core Ijaw dichotomy which has caused social inequality and disarmony can only be abolished if the Ijaws speak in one peculiar language and voice.
He noted that despite the fact that the Ijaws are not in the same geographical entity as they are scattered around the country starting from Ondo to Akwa Ibom states, they can still project a common goal and vision particularly by organizing a cultural and carnival day which would ultimately bring the Ijaws together under one specific umbrella and serve as a veritable platform to showcase the divergent and rich cultural heritage of the Ijaws.
He also harped on the inclusion of Ijaw traditional rulers on the payroll of the Federal Government, adding that this will enable them to go round the Ijaw speaking states and move for a concrete custodian of Ijaw cultures, values, heritages and Kingdoms.
According to him, the harnessing and onward development of the agricultural potentials that abound in Ijaw lands is part of the cardinal objectives of IPM, stressing that the sector alone can provide the much needed socio-economic development of the Ijaw nation.
In the same vein, the secretary general of IPM, Comrade Doutimi Emmanuel pointed out that the body aims to tackle the existing injustice and marginalisation of Ijaws especially in terms of employment qoutas in federal government establishments.
In her complimentary remarks, the body’s Central Zone chairman, Mrs Esther Digitemie noted that as an upcoming group, they intend to initiate programmes and policies that would be all inclusive by carrying the rural dwellers along in all the zones that make up the entire body, adding that thier major focus is on agriculture which is a sure guarantee for food security in Ijaw land, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the fertility of the land.
While thanking the state governor, Senator Douye Diri, the Bassan Clan chairman of the body, Rev. Marculay Prince also opined that Bayelsa State known as the Jerusalem of Ijaw nation is blessed with abundant agricultural potentials, pointing out that with unity and the constant display of the spirit of oneness which the body stands for, Ijaw nation will witness rapid socio-cultural and economic transformation.
The body used the opportunity to thank Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri and the Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs, Bar. Godspower Oporomo for recognizing the body’s existence in the state and also for the indispensable roles they have played to ensure that the unique identity, unity and oneness that IPM stands for see the light of the day.
