The prospect of an Ijaw nation is possible if the people review their emotional and psychological state, according to Prof. Atuboyedia Obianime of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Port-Harcourt.
Obianime stated this on Saturday during a Public Lecture/Dinner organised to mark the 2025 Isaac Boro Day celebration at Bayelsa Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.
He spoke on the topic “The Ijaw Struggle For Self Determination: Challenges, New Frontiers And Prospect.”
Obianime emphasised the need for a reorientation of the people by pursuing environmental and social justice.
According to him, the existing law suit and social campaign should be used for the development of the people and the region.
“We must change the erroneous narrative by people who mean us no good and present us as aliens, senseless agitators or militants, not as educated people seeking their rights, justice and fairness,” he said.
Obianime noted that politics and the allure of monetary gains have disunited the Ijaw people, and stressed the need to prioritise Ijawness over party lines.
“Peace building, dialogue and constructive engagement between the Ijaw nation, the Federal Government, oil companies, are key to lasting peace,” he added.
Obianime stressed the importance of packaging the Ijaw message and placing it on international human rights platforms, environmental courts, and policy institutions.
He also emphasised the need to empower youths with the right information, global exposure, and leadership training to sustain the desire for a better future.
“We must begin to learn to accommodate and network our interests.
”We must purposefully go out to make new friends, establish new relationships and begin a new phase of what I consider a high-powered PR activity,” he said.
Obianime noted that the new frontiers for the Ijaw nation were not about bullets and guns but about brains and brawn.
“The Ijaws must rise above petty educational pursuits but seek education that is liberating and fair,” he said.
The professor also highlighted the challenges facing the Ijaw struggle, including poverty, disease, and lack of quality education.
He noted that the human resource to carry on the struggle had changed, and the struggle promoters had become contractors to the people who steal oil resources.
In his remarks, the Secretary to Bayelsa Government, Professor Nimibofa Ayawei, urged the younger generations to emulate Isaac Boro’s principles and struggle, which contributed to the creation of old Rivers state and now Bayelsa.
Ayawei emphasised the need for Ijaw people to prioritize their collective interest over personal interests.
The lecture highlighted the need for a new approach to the Ijaw struggle, one that prioritises peace, dialogue, and education.
By working together and presenting a united front, the Ijaw people could achieve their goals and secure a better future.
