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Alamieyeseigha Warns Against Spread of Ijaw-Itsekiri War

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
August 21, 2003
Posted to the web August 21, 2003

By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa
BAYELSA State government has warned that the fratricidal face-off between the
Ijaw and Itsekiri could spell down for the country if allowed to spread to
other parts of the Niger Delta. Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha who gave the
warning in Yenagoa lamented that the Ijaw and Itsekiri crisis could escalate at
a time stakeholders in the Bayelsa-Delta axis of the Niger Delta were seeking
ways of tackling some of the most worrisome problems affecting the area.
Alamieyeseigha however stated that his administration would not be dragged into
any overt or covert attempt to generate mutual suspicion and rivalry between
the two ethnic groups, adding that judging by the complex nature of the problem
which is fundamentally political, stakeholders should pool their resources
together to help resolve the crisis.
The governor's words: "it has come to the notice of the Bayelsa State
government that, in the last few days, there has been growing apprehension
concerning the crisis between the Ijaw and Itsekiri in Warri, Delta State.
"On Tuesday, August 5, 2003, various community leaders, chiefs, youth groups
and stakeholders in the Bayelsa-Delta axis of the Niger Delta had converged in
Yenagoa at the behest of the Bayelsa State government to seek solutions to some
of the most worrisome problems affecting our land and people.
"Ironically, only a few days later, the nation was constrained to watch another
horrid drama of contention between people who have lived for several decades in
peace and harmony.
"As a government concerned with the development of the Niger Delta, we cannot
pretend to stay aloof from the crisis that is heating up the very heart of the
Niger Delta. It will evidently be dangerous if the crisis spills into other
parts of the region.
"Accordingly, to underscore our objection to the crisis in Warri and in a bid
to safeguard lives and property, the state government", he said, "is compelled
to state that it recognises that there are obvious and fundamental
discrepancies in the political structure of the area, which need to be
addressed frankly and impartially by all concerned parties."
The governor added that the brotherly cordiality between the Ijaw and the
Itsekiri should be respected and not put to any test by faceless conspirators.
"The price we have paid over the years in human and material terms, is high
enough and there is no point aggravating an already terrible situation.
"Ultimately, the people of the same stock who have shared common cultural and
historical properties through the ages will suffer." He condemned any ploy that
threatens the order and security of the region and by extension the economic
well-being of the country. While stressing that this was not the time to
apportion blame to any one but to pool resources together to stop the carnage,
the governor called for a ceasefire in order to create an enabling environment
for all stakeholders to proffer solutions to the protracted crises.
The governor who maintained that conventional options of dialogue remained the
viable and lawful way to redress grievances in the greater interest of its
people, however, added that Bayelsa state government would not be dragged into
any overt or covert attempt to generate mutual suspicion and rivalry between
the two ethnic groups.

   

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