The Ikwerre People of Rivers State people have told the acclaimed leader of Biafra Community Government, BCG, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, to stay clear of co-opting Iwerre land and its people into his imaginary map of Biafra.
Reacting to a report quoting Dokubo as saying that the entire Niger Delta,which Ikwerre is a major component has been mapped out as part of the State of Biafra, a group, Ikwerre Peoples Congress, IPC, wondered howbl Dokubo has been so inconsistent in his ways of life.
A statement, signed by the Convener of IPC, Mr. Livingstone Wechie, noted that Ikwerre remains an ethnic block that has its voice and rights of first refusal, hence, it would not be subservient to any other ethnic block.
The statement reads in part, “The attention of Ikwerre People’s Congress, IPC, a socio-political and socio-economic organisation of Ikwerre people, has been drawn to a certain report wherein Alhaji Asari Dokubo purportedly proclaimed himself as the leader of a group he christened “Biafra” and has allegedly coopted the entire Niger Delta, including Ikwerre land into his imaginary map.
“Ordinarily, we are compelled to address and react to this vexatious report, not minding the fact that the antecedents of Asari Dokubo is fraught with inconsistencies. This is for record purposes so that the unsuspecting public is not misled by this fiction movie.
“Whereas, IPC and indeed all Niger Deltans and the entire Lower Niger belt respect individual rights, including Asari’s freedom of expression and association, these rights have their fundamental limitations and implications and this applies to Alhaji Asari on all fores.
“For the records, Ikwerre is an independent ethnic nation in Nigeria, with a global spread and Ikwerres are not subservient to any other ethnic block whatsoever, and under any guise.
“This is in respecting the status of Ikwerre as one of the largest ethnic nationalities in Nigeria on record undisputed.
“Therefore, Ikwerre Peoples Congress, in its right, along with other credible socio-cultural organisations in Ikwerre nation are the only bodies with the legitimate authority to make representations and speak on behalf of the Ikwerre nation and her people on issues that affect our interest.
“On this note, we state categorically that although, Asari’s forebearers owe their ancestry to Ikwerre nation, and whereas Asari is a Niger Delta son with his fundamental rights to his identity and affinities, he does not have the right, authority, permission and or legitimacy to speak on behalf of the Ikwerre nation, or to speak solely for the Niger Delta, under any guise, either by himself or through his cronies or agents.
“No doubt we have disputation and aspirations in pursuit of the respect and demand for self determination over our lands and resources, including political rights as a people in the Lower Niger and the Niger Delta in particular, which aspirations we share with our neighbours and ethnic counterparts, no position, negotiation or consultations will be made over the Ikwerre nation without our voluntary consent and mandate. Ikwerre is too big for that foul play and this is trite knowledge.
“This view is sacred and undoubtedly includes the rest of the Niger Delta, because nobody, including Asari Dokubo can impose his personal will or agenda on any ethnic block in our region.
“Therefore we ask that the Ikwerre nation be left out of Asari’s diatribe.”
