Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

Traditional rulers from Ijaw speaking communities  have rejected the idea of cattle colonies in any part of Ijawland.

This was part of a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting in Yenagoa and chaired by first military governor of old Rivers State and Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, Amanayabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred  Diete-Spiff.

The traditional rulers while condemning the killing of farmers by Fulani herdsmen “expressed total rejection of establishing cattle colonies for cattle production on Ijaw territories.”

Restating the commitment of the Ijaw people, who have lived in time immemorial in at least, six states of the federation as indigenous people, to live in peace and harmony with all their neighbours, they condemned the tendency in some states where Ijaws are aboriginal people but denied their cultural and economic rights and excluded from the political mainstream.

The monarchs expressed support for the ongoing clamour for restructuring of the country in line with the aspirations of the founding fathers of the country such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Abukakar Tafawa Belewa, Dr. Ernest Ikoli, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye and emphasised the urgency for fiscal federalism as the only panacea for sustainable peace, social justice, equity and fairness in Nigeria.

The communiqué stated that the meeting approved the composition of an 11-member National Electoral Committee with Rear Admiral W. G. Yanga as chairman for the purpose of organising a convention of the Ijaw National Congress (INC).

The traditional rulers also seized the opportunity to commend Governor Henry Seriake Dickson for the focused and purposeful manner in which he has championed matters pertaining to the welfare of Ijaw people worldwide and in the development of Bayelsa State.