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The communities making up Kerebiri Mein kingdom in Bomadi council area of Delta State have protested what they described as non-inclusiveness by the traditional umbrella body of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders Forum, CITRE.
The kingdom in a letter addressed to the CITRE, dated March 16, 2021 and signed by one Chief Clement Tikpa, secretary of the Kerebiri Mein kingdom, noted that the protest was necessitated by the non-recognition of the kingdom by the constitution of the Ijaw National Congress, INC.
They alleged that following their non-inclusiveness by the INC, another kingdom, Akugbene Mein, “has been usurping and appropriating roles and functions original meant for their kingdom in the affairs of INC, CITRE and other pan-Ijaw bodies.
They restated that the acts perpetrated by the Akugbene Mein kingdom were capable of breaching the peace in the two separate and autonomous kingdoms.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after their protest at the venue of the CITRE meeting, the trio of Chiefs Clement Tikpa, Ordley Oyindoubra and Barr Francis Omoko, called on the leadership of the Ijaw nation, Governors Douye Diri of Bayelsa and Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta states to hold the trio of Sen. James Manager, Representative Nicholas Mutu and Hon. Kenneth Preyor, responsible in the event that the crisis escalates.
Sen. Manager, Mutu and Hon. Preyor, are federal and state legislators representing the constituencies of the “feuding areas.”
Tikpa, Oyindoubra and Omoko alleged that despite “pleadings made by the Kerebiri Mein kingdom for the lawmakers to intervene in containing the problems they have remained mute over the concerns raised.”
Our source learnt that both Kerebiri Mein and Akugbene Mein kingdoms are Ijaw clans situated in parts in Bomadi and Burutu Council areas of Delta State respectively.
It would be recalled that in a bid to finding lasting peace among factions in the INC, the Conference of the Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders Forum, CITRE convened a meeting in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State during the week.
The source further reports that the letter addressed to the CITRE and copied to the Justice Francis Tabai-led INC reconciliatory committee, which was entitled ‘Request for freedom from Akugbene Mein Kingdom/inclusion of Kerebiri Mein kingdom in the INC constitution,’ reads in parts: “We hereby wish to inform you that Kerebiri Mein kingdom existed from time immemorial and migrated from their ancestral home, Ogobiri in Bayelsa State.”
“Kerebiri Mein kingdom is an autonomous kingdom that has never been ruled, subjugated or conquered by any kingdom in history.”
The kingdom described the attempts by the Akugbene Mein kingdom as surreptitious and incessant oppression and intimidation, saying it was highly provoking, just as they noted that if not urgently handled might escalate to a crisis situation.
