Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa, has urged the Ijaw ethnic nationality and the Ijaw National Congress (INC) not to abandon the long-standing struggle for the creation of additional states for the Ijaw people.
The governor made the call on Friday while addressing delegates and stakeholders at the 2026 national convention of the INC held at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Diri reminded the gathering that the Ijaw nation had historically demanded the creation of three states but currently has only one Bayelsa.
According to him, the agitation for the remaining two states should remain a key priority for the ethnic nationality.
He noted that the Ijaw leadership had originally sought the establishment of Oil Rivers, Bayelsa and Toru-Ibe states, stressing that the creation of Bayelsa alone did not fulfil the aspiration of the people.
“We have made progress, but the journey is not yet complete,” the governor said.
“The demand for the other states must remain alive. If our generation cannot achieve it, we must pass the responsibility to the next.”
Diri emphasised that the struggle for fairness and inclusion must be sustained, pointing out that the Ijaw region has long contributed immensely to Nigeria’s economy through its vast natural resources.
He lamented that despite this contribution, the area continues to suffer environmental degradation, infrastructural challenges and economic disparities.
According to him, decades of oil exploration in Ijaw territories have left lasting ecological damage while many communities remain underdeveloped.
The governor also reiterated his long-standing position on the need for true federalism in Nigeria, arguing that the current system is heavily centralised.
He described the existing arrangement as a “unitary federalism,” insisting that states would experience greater growth and development if they were allowed to fully control their resources.
Diri suggested that a more balanced system should allow states to manage their natural wealth while remitting taxes to the Federal Government.
Speaking on the forthcoming INC presidential election, the Bayelsa governor clarified that he had no preferred candidate among the five aspirants contesting the position.
He advised all contestants to place the collective interest of the Ijaw people above personal ambition, noting that the organisation plays a critical role in representing the aspirations of the ethnic nationality.
The governor also commended the outgoing leadership of the INC led by Professor Benjamin Okaba for its stewardship and contributions to the Ijaw cause.
He particularly praised the leadership for working with government to secure the formal recognition of the Ijaw nation within the United Nations’ Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO).
Diri urged the incoming leadership of the Congress to build on existing achievements, promote the revival of Ijaw language and culture, and ensure that the aspirations of the founding fathers of the organisation are preserved.
Earlier in his remarks, the outgoing INC President, Prof. Okaba, stressed the need for a more strategic and globally focused approach to advancing the Ijaw struggle.
He observed that although the Ijaw nation remains central to Nigeria’s oil-driven economy, the region has continued to experience environmental degradation and inadequate infrastructure.
Okaba therefore called for stronger international engagement in advocating for the rights and development of the Ijaw people, noting that the convention offered an opportunity for leadership renewal and reflection on the organisation’s future direction.
He disclosed that the INC had initiated several new programmes aimed at strengthening the struggle, including a Territorial Mapping Project designed to digitally document Ijaw ancestral lands.
According to him, the project would assist in environmental monitoring as well as negotiations relating to natural resources and territorial rights.
The INC president also announced that 15 affiliate organisations had been formally registered to collaborate with the Congress in amplifying the voice of the Ijaw nation both within Nigeria and on the global stage.
The convention attracted several prominent figures from within and outside Bayelsa State.
Among those in attendance were former Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Peremobowei Ebebi; Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere; and the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei.
Others included the Head of Service, Dr. Ebiye Sawyer; members of the State Executive Council; the Bayelsa State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Warman Ogoriba; local government chairmen; and traditional rulers from Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.
Also present was the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, alongside several royal fathers, government officials and stakeholders from across the Ijaw nation.
