The Ijaw National Congress worldwide has proposed the creation of two additional Ijaw states.

The proposed states, the INC said, should be carved out from  Edo, Delta, Ondo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom.

Benjamin Okaba, INC’s global president, made the proposal in his memorandum at the National Assembly Constitution Review Public Hearing for the South-South Zone on Saturday.

Mr Okaba proposed that the two states, Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers, be carved out of Edo, Delta, Ondo, as well as Rivers and Akwa Ibom, respectively.

“We reaffirm our demand for the creation of two additional homogeneous Ijaw states: Toru-Ebe comprising Ijaws in Delta, Edo, and Ondo, and Oil Rivers made up of Ijaws in Rivers and Akwa Ibom. We also propose an additional 33 local government areas for Bayelsa, which currently has just eight.

“The demand for the creation of the proposed Toru Ebe State is aimed at addressing long-standing yearnings and aspirations of the people for justice, peace, stability, self-determination, and development. The territorial configuration of the proposed Toru Ebe state includes only Ijaw clans in the present Delta, Edo, and Ondo states.

“These distinct yet culturally homogeneous clans of the Ijaw ethnic nationality and customary owners of all land living in a geographical contiguous territory of their own and have been deliberately balkanised into different political and administrative units in the country are the ones demanding the creation of the proposed state,” he said.

He noted that the oil revenue from the Ijaw areas in the three states accounted for the largest revenue accruing to the National Economy.

According to him, despite the receipt of 13 percent derivation revenue by Edo, Delta, and Ondo, the Ijaw areas, which are mineral-producing, have been denied any meaningful development.

He said, “Modern infrastructure social services such as schools, hospitals, and potable water are near absent in Ijaw communities, especially in Edo. Ancient traditional tools are easily denigrated and denied official recognition and patronage. With the political fragmentation in place, it has been impossible for an Ijaw man in Edo to become a mere ward councillor.

“Because of the neglect, there is a high level of rural-urban migration leading to the loss of indigenous cultural heritage.”

The INC global president stated, however, that the Ijaw, as inhabitants of this marshy and swampy terrain, were blessed with abundant natural resources, including oil and natural gas.

(NAN)