How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group - Politics - Nairaland
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The 3 Largest Ethnic Groups Are Hausa,igbo,kanuri / The Fourth Largest Ethnic Group In Nigeria / Odumchi: Yorubas Are The Largest Ethnic Group In Nigeria (2) (3) (4)
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| How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by Afam4eva(m): 7:23pm On Mar 12, 2012 |
I grew up partly in port-hacourt that's dominated by the indigenous Ikwerres(Igboid), Eastern Igbos and Ijaws. PH is like the lagos for the old eastern ethnic groups which also inclued Efik/Ibibios, Ogonis, Ekpeye et al. When i came to lagos, it was very hard to come across an Ijaw person and i saw Ijaw as one of thos eethnic groups that were small in number and were only noticeable in Rivers and Bayelsa states. Fast-forward 2012, the name Ijaw is on everybody's lips. They have come from being a nonentity(not an insult) ethnic group, to being the proclaimed 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria. Where does that leave the Ibibios and other minorities. I can tell you that Ibibios are more noticeable in Nigeria than Ijaws, so, how did Ijaws come to become the next big thing after Hausa, Igbo(Ibo) and Yoruba. |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by DRANOEL(m): 7:49pm On Mar 12, 2012 |
their population exploded when they woke up from their "crude" slumber and realised they have oil and a sitting president. with a little push from "nigeria magic" they population dwarfed those of nupe,kanuri,ibibio,tiv who are more visible and factually more in number! 2 Likes |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by odumchi: 12:23am On Mar 13, 2012 |
The last time I checked it was said that the Ijo numbered 14 million people and are concentrated mainly in Bayelsa with a considerable number in Delta and Rivers. Nowadays Ijo are counted as 10% of Nigeria. With 160m plus people, Nigeria theoretically has in excess of 16 million Ijo. When you come to think of if, based on current population records it's to believe that the population of these three states combined even reaches 16 million not to think of having 16 million Ijo. The Ijo themselves are considered minorities in Delta and Rivers states. I think it's either the Nigerian census bureau has failed to provide accurate population records and has resorted to deflating the populations of certain states (which is very possible) or that the Ijo are inflating their number. 2 Likes |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by dayokanu(m): 12:25am On Mar 13, 2012 |
I doubt Ijaw are more than Edo or Idomas as the 4th largest maybe its got to do with an Ijawman Odechukwu Retardeen who is president 2 Likes |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by EzeUche(m): 12:54am On Mar 13, 2012 |
The Ibibio would have been the largest group if they considered themselves as one people. Ibibio, Efik and Annang despise being called the same people even though the languages are mutually intelligible. It doesn't make sense though, because when I speak Ibibio, I can understand an Efik man speak and Annang person speak with ease. Now that the Ijaw people see themselves as one people, this allows them to claim that title as 4th largest group. Before this notion of Ijaw, the various Ijaw groups did not see themselves as one. I doubt their numbers as well, like I doubt most Nigerian group numbers. 1 Like |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by DRANOEL(m): 7:27am On Mar 13, 2012 |
the census figures did not give the ijaw high numbers. ijaw being the 4th largest tribe is just mischief! consider this, 2006 census figures: bayelsa(all ijaw)-1.6million people. approximate another 1million for ijaw populations in delta and rivers. you get a total of 2.6million people. benue (total population)-4.3million. benue (tiv areas)-3.2million. approximate 1.5million for tiv populations in taraba,nassarawa,plateau and cross rivers(bachave). you get a total of 4.7 million. so with what magic has ijaw now become 4th largest? even funnier, who gave them 12million people when the total populations of all ethnic groups in bayelsa,rivers and delta doesn't sum up to 10million 4 Likes |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by PapaBrowne(m): 9:00am On Mar 13, 2012 |
I think there are Ijaws in every area where you find water. Ondo,Edo,Delta,Bayelsa,Rivers,Akwa Ibom and Cross River. Even in the creeks of Lagos you find Ijaws who have been there for ages. I personally cannot comprehend 16 Million, but 10 million would be fair game and if 10 million is it, then surely they are the fourth largest in the country. But really what advantage does having a huge population have anyway?? Hausas are by far the Largest ethnic group and yet the poorest by a long shot. Itsekiris are barely noticeable with population of much less than 1 million and yet they are doing pretty good. Off the shores, Bangladesh- 160 million people. GDP- $266 Billion Singapore- 5 Million people. GDP- 290 Billion Population= zero advantage = huge liabilities. except you know how to use it right. 4 Likes |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by PapaBrowne(m): 9:01am On Mar 13, 2012 |
I think there are Ijaws in every area where you find water. Ondo,Edo,Delta,Bayelsa,Rivers,Akwa Ibom and Cross River. Even in the creeks of Lagos you find Ijaws who have been there for ages. I personally cannot comprehend 16 Million, but 10 million would be fair game and if 10 million is it, then surely they are the fourth largest in the country. But really what advantage does having a huge population have anyway?? Hausas are by far the Largest ethnic group and yet the poorest by a long shot. Itsekiris are barely noticeable with population of much less than 1 million and yet they are doing pretty good. Off the shores, Bangladesh- 160 million people. GDP- $266 Billion ............... Singapore- 5 Million people. GDP- 290 Billion Population= zero advantage = huge liabilities. except you know how to use it right. 1 Like |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by PapaBrowne(m): 9:01am On Mar 13, 2012 |
I think there are Ijaws in every area where you find water. Ondo,Edo,Delta,Bayelsa,Rivers,Akwa Ibom and Cross River. Even in the creeks of Lagos you find Ijaws who have been there for ages. I personally cannot comprehend 16 Million, but 10 million would be fair game and if 10 million is it, then surely they are the fourth largest in the country. But really what advantage does having a huge population have anyway?? Hausas are by far the Largest ethnic group and yet the poorest by a long shot. Itsekiris are barely noticeable with population of much less than 1 million and yet they are doing pretty good. Off the shores, Bangladesh- 160 million people. GDP- $266 Billion Singapore- 5 Million people. GDP- 290 Billion Population= zero advantage = huge liabilities. except you know how to use it right. 1 Like |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by PapaBrowne(m): 9:02am On Mar 13, 2012 |
I think there are Ijaws in every area where you find water. Ondo,Edo,Delta,Bayelsa,Rivers,Akwa Ibom and Cross River. Even in the creeks of Lagos you find Ijaws who have been there for ages. I personally cannot comprehend 16 Million, but 10 million would be fair game and if 10 million is it, then surely they are the fourth largest in the country. But really what advantage does having a huge population have anyway?? Hausas are by far the Largest ethnic group and yet the poorest by a long shot. Itsekiris are barely noticeable with population of much less than 1 million and yet they are doing pretty good. Off the shores, Bangladesh- 160 million people. GDP- $266 Billion Singapore- 5 Million people. GDP- $290 Billion Population= zero advantage = huge liabilities. except you know how to use it right. |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by Kilode1: 9:56am On Mar 13, 2012 |
This is one of the reasons why it's important to do credible census. So one Boniface with too much Eba in his tummy won't wake up one morning and start claiming impossible millions. Except you pour a ship load of Viagra + fertility drugs in your water overnight, one can measure population trends based on historical patterns. You can't just become "populated" overnight  1 Like |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by ektbear: 10:34am On Mar 13, 2012 |
Tiv definitely are more numerous. If the Akwa Ibom groups are considered one ethnicity, they are more numerous (and imo they have a stronger case, since at least their languages are mutually intelligible. While the various Ijaw languages are not mutually intelligible.) Nupe are more numerous. Igala more numerous. So probably 8th or so largest group? 9th if I considered Edoid groups one... 1 Like |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by ektbear: 10:35am On Mar 13, 2012 |
Kilode?!: lmao |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by DRANOEL(m): 10:44am On Mar 13, 2012 |
i am not so sure but i think edwin clark started this propaganda |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by Afam4eva(m): 11:02am On Mar 13, 2012 |
PapaBrowne: I think there are Ijaws in every area where you find water. Ondo,Edo,Delta,Bayelsa,Rivers,Akwa Ibom and Cross River. Even in the creeks of Lagos you find Ijaws who have been there for ages. I personally cannot comprehend 16 Million, but 10 million would be fair game and if 10 million is it, then surely they are the fourth largest in the country. Apart from Bayelsa state where the Ijaw population stand at about 1.5 million, they're not even up to a million in Rivers and Delta and not even up to hundreds of thousands in Ondo and other states where you find native Ijaws. 1 Like |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by hakanai(m): 11:15am On Mar 13, 2012 |
Ijaw fourth!!! I think that is certainly wrong.I am certain the TIVs are far more in numbers than the Ijaws,even the Igalas and kanuris are more!!!It's possible the Ijaws consider the ND as a whole with disregard for other tribes.Else its not true! 1 Like |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by ektbear: 11:24am On Mar 13, 2012 |
So I forgot Kanuri too. In my opinion, this is what population in Nigeria looks like: 1/2/3. Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa-Fulani in some ordering 4. Akwa Ibom/CR groups 5. Edoids if you consider them one group 6. Tiv 7. Kanuri 8/9. Igala/Nupe 10. Ijoid groups? Something roughly like this, I suppose? Basically even if you consider Akwa Ibom/X-river folks as all distinct ethnicities, Edoids all as distinct ethnicities, clearly Tiv, Kanuri, Igala and Nupe are legitimate significant population groups, each more numerous than Ijaw. |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by ektbear: 11:28am On Mar 13, 2012 |
Actually, are Tiv more numerous than Edoids? Edoid to me = Edo State folks (Bini, Ishan, Afemai, etc), Urhobo, Isoko. How do these groups compare in population to Tiv or Akwa Ibom/X-river groups? Let's put round numbers on these ethnicities. Are there 10 million Tivs or more like 5 million (keep in mind that the official pop of Nigeria is roughly ~160 million, and also note the officially state population of Benue State..)? Same with these other groups. |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by odumchi: 12:09pm On Mar 13, 2012 |
PapaBrowne: I think there are Ijaws in every area where you find water. Ondo,Edo,Delta,Bayelsa,Rivers,Akwa Ibom and Cross River. Even in the creeks of Lagos you find Ijaws who have been there for ages. I personally cannot comprehend 16 Million, but 10 million would be fair game and if 10 million is it, then surely they are the fourth largest in the country. There aren't any Ijo in Akwa Ibom or Cross River. In Akwa Ibom, the coastal areas are occupied by the Annang while in Cross River they are occupied by the Efik. 3 Likes |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by aljharem(m): 12:16pm On Mar 13, 2012 |
PapaBrowne: I think there are Ijaws in every area where you find water. Ondo,Edo,Delta,Bayelsa,Rivers,Akwa Ibom and Cross River. Even in the creeks of Lagos you find Ijaws who have been there for ages. I personally cannot comprehend 16 Million, but 10 million would be fair game and if 10 million is it, then surely they are the fourth largest in the country. There are no Ijaws in Lagos. 1 Like |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by DRANOEL(m): 12:39pm On Mar 13, 2012 |
ekt_bear: Actually, are Tiv more numerous than Edoids? give or take the tivs in nigeria might total about 6million. the ijaws should be in the region of 2.8million. in between apart from those i see on television i've only met about five ijaw people in my life (and believe me i've travelled nigeria). curiously i've come across countless urhobo people. 1 Like |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by Nobody: 11:36am On May 20, 2012 |
alj harem:Bullshyte!Mtscheww!my Fams are in Lagos and are ijaws!Haters!pshh! 1 Like |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by AndreUweh(m): 2:11pm On May 20, 2012 |
The Ijaws are less than 5 million in Nigeria. Ijaws are in only two local councils in Delta state-about 3 hundred thousand. Ijaw in Bayelsa about 2 million. Ijaw in Rivers about I million. In Ondo, Ijaws are about 1 hundred thousand. There are about 30,000 ijaws in Lagos and 6,000 in Edo state. In Nigeria, there are more, Efik-Ibibios, Edos and Kanuris than Ijaws. 1 Like |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by aljharem(m): 2:18pm On May 20, 2012 |
krystabella28: ofcourse there are but I mean indigenous. There are all ethnic groups in Nigeria in Lagos but indigenous NO ! 4 Likes |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by aljharem(m): 2:23pm On May 20, 2012 |
Andre Uweh: The Ijaws are less than 5 million in Nigeria. Ijaws are in only two local councils in Delta state-about 3 hundred thousand. Ijaw in Bayelsa about 2 million. Ijaw in Rivers about I million. Andre you are annoying me. the only close thing indigeous to Ijaws in Lagos are Aworis and I am Awori prince and we are not Ijaws Yes our dressing is similar but WE are not Ijaws but under the yoruba ethnicity. Moreover how did Ijaw get to Lagos and skip Ogun ? Also Ijaws have more then 2 local governments in delta. STOP LYING The largest ethnic group in rivers state (indigenous) are Ijaws, stop lying, Opobo, ndoki, bonny kalabari etc are all Ijaws if we have about 6.5 million people in rivers state how can 1 million be Ijaw, certainly they are more than 65 % of the population. Stop trying to undermine the Ijaw people with your fake propaganda. 3 Likes |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by Johndoe100(m): 2:23pm On May 20, 2012 |
Another very silly question. The tribe has been balkanized by being divided into as many as 10 states. If we were together our numerical strength would be openly seen. 1 Like 1 Share |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by ektbear: 2:28pm On May 20, 2012 |
Ijaw may not even be the largest ethnic group in Rivers+Bayelsa, let alone Rivers. Igbos are the largest group in Rivers. |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by ektbear: 2:30pm On May 20, 2012 |
If they were the largest ethnic group in Rivers, then not likely that since 1999 their governors would have been Igbo only. 1 Like |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by aljharem(m): 2:30pm On May 20, 2012 |
Johndoe100: Another very silly question. The tribe has been balkanized by being divided into as many as 10 states. If we were together our numerical strength would be openly seen. 10 different state  Ok here it is for Ijaws Edo, Ondo, Rivers, Delta, Balysea, Akwa ibom (really pushing it) where else ? Maybe you want to added Imo and Abia ? but even at that it is not upto 10 1 Like |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by aljharem(m): 2:32pm On May 20, 2012 |
ekt_bear: If they were the largest ethnic group in Rivers, then not likely that since 1999 their governors would have been Igbo only. Those people you and other Nigerian call Igbos some are actually ijaws. Lets even say they are Igbos, we should actually respect the Ijaws for allowing such to happen. They are indeed open minded people and very friendly. I know some of them myself and they are one the nicest if not the nicest group in Nigeria. 1 Like |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by AndreUweh(m): 2:35pm On May 20, 2012 |
alj harem: |
| Re: How Did Ijaw Become The 4th Largest Ethnic Group by aljharem(m): 2:48pm On May 20, 2012 |
^^^^^^^^^^ Ijaw fishermen migrated there just as of Ilajes (Mahin, ugbo etc). There are lot of Ilajes in Lagos but they would not claim to be indigneous to Lagos (although they are now lagosians but they are yorubas) so how did Ijaws get to Lagos. Yes again I am an Awori-egun man born and breed. We have similar dressing to Niger-deltains but we are NOT I repeat NOT ijaws but under the Yoruba ethnic nation. Yes we even share some words together like water (miri) but does NOT MAKE US IJAWS. We have only I repeat only 4 groups or dialect indignous to Lagos which are Aworis, Eguns, Ijebus and Egbas. Now we Aworis were never under the Oyo empire but had our kingdom. Infact in the Oyo empire the only group that had access to sea were Ijebus (If i remember correctly) thus people misinterpret this as us not being yoruba. WRONG. Yes Ijaws and OPC of awori stock clashed because of Asari Dokubo who was making treasonable tribalistic comments about Yorubas and also having night meetings in ajegunle which is treason as far as I am concerned. It was Egun-Awori youths that took up arms after MUCH warnings of inciteful statements, both sides suffered heavy causality but we are wiser now. This does not mean Yorubas and Ijaws are enemies. We are living in peace and we would continue to live in peace with each other. We and Ijaws have so much intermixed that we have an Ijaw KING in Lagos Now which is higher ranked than any other ethnicity in Lagos apart from Yorubas and Edos. I have forgotten his name now but I would post it as soon as I remember. Andre same cannot be said of rivers state because they are indigneous to the state. |
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