By Godwin Anene
For calling for the sack of the Special Adviser on the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Prof Charles Dokubo, Ijaws of Eastern Zone in Rivers State have warned their brothers in Central and Western Ijaw Zones to halt such moves.
They described the move not only as selfish but capable of threatening the peace of the entire Ijaw Nation, saying that the continued attack on their son (Dokubo) by Ijaw Ijaws in Central and Western Zone would no longer be condoned.
In a statement signed by prominent chieftains of apex Ijaw socio-cultural umbrella, Ijaw National Congress (INC), Victor Burubo and Fubara Roberts, they warned against unwarranted attack on Ijaw from Eastern zone.
The statement noted that, “Dokubo, was appointed on merit and has been satisfactorily giving everyone in the Niger Delta a sense of belonging in discharge of his duty.
“Majority of the unwarranted, incessant and untruthful petitions against Dokubo’s continued stay in office is found to be emanating from our Ijaw brothers from Central and Western zones and the emerging patterns of attacks indicate it has to do with where he hails from, Eastern Ijaw.”
They said Eastern Ijaws have consistently demonstrated solidarity with Western and Central brothers in all endeavours, citing that Eastern Ijaws delivered more votes to Jonathan’s 2011 presidential victory than the contribution from Central and Western zones put together.
They further states that, “All past holders of the Amnesty office enjoyed full cooperation of Eaatern Ijaws, our support often taken for granted and yielded very little in terms of appreciation. In all these we have always worked for the bond of unity of Ijawland.
“We cannot always guarantee adherence to the Pan Ijaw Unity if highly positioned Ijaw from East are constantly hounded by those we calls brethren. This ethnic headhunting and cannibalism against Eastern Ijaw has gone long enough. Such enemy action does not cohere with our idea of one Ijaw nation.
“We urge traditional rulers, elders, and patriotic Ijaws from Central and Western Zones to call to order, these selfish and unruly elements who are threatening the unity of Ijaw nation.”
