Address Historic Injustice Against Itsekiri, Group Urges Tinubu
IndependentAug 1, 2023 3:01 PM

The Alliance of Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM) a coalition of 121 Pan Yoruba groups spread across Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Edo, Kwara, Kogi, and the West African Coast, has called on President Bola Tinubu to tackle the historic injustice suffered for centuries by Itsekiri indigenous ethnic group.


In a letter addressed to President Tinubu on Tuesday, after an extensive meeting of Pan Yoruba groups, AYDM said that for more than 1000 years, the Itsekiri have asserted themselves as a unique people with a rich civilization and have made tremendous contributions to African cultural and economic growth.

The itsekiri are some 1.5 million people found in Delta and Edo States. The Itsekiri for centuries have lived in the Niger Delta, often classified as minorities, undermining their access to political, economic, and social opportunities.

AYDM said they have received little or nothing in return for the enormous resources successive governments exploit on their ancestral territories.


In the letter signed by the AYDM General Secretary Popoola Ajayi and Secretary for Mobilization, Chief Kunle Oshodi, AYDM said the Itsekiri produce 35 percent of Nigerian oil and gas but get little or nothing in return.

“There are no economic landmarks, no industries, no commensurate employment opportunities in the oil companies, and while they are given crumbs when it comes to political appointments at the Federal level.

“No Itsekiri man has ever led the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC). No Itsekiri man has ever emerged as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. No Itsekiri man has ever been made a Federal Minister since 1999. This is ridiculous” the AYDM said.


The group observed that even in the face of repression, oil pollution, and exclusion the Itsekiri are one of the few ethnic groups in the Niger Delta that have never resolved into violence, vandalisation of oil pipelines, bunkering, or oil theft adding that the Presidency should demonstrate that there is a reward for peaceful conduct and not just reward for groups that threaten violence and armed insurrection at all times.


AYDM said the late Pa Alfred Rewane was the financial backbone of the resistance against military rule, a dangerous assignment that eventually led to his assassination in November 1994.

“We commend President Tinubu for recognizing the role of Pa Rewane. As the then Governor of Lagos State, he named one of the longest streets in Lagos after Pa Rewane for his contributions to democracy and justice without which the military would have remained in Nigeria.


“We call on President Tinubu to correct this historic injustice to a great people whose land provides immense resources to Nigeria,” AYDM said.

The coalition said President Tinubu can do this by recognizing the Itsekiri ethnic group through significant industrial investments in their homeland, Federal appointment that will give the people a deep sense of belonging, a step that will justify their non-violence to the long chain of repression they have suffered

Tinubu's in laws

But Itsekiri has been Governor of Delta since 1999, with Uduaghan.

Over 35% percent of oil and gas producrd in Nigeria comes from itshekiri,...but God why
Are Yorubas so rich and gentle

Curse777:
Tinubu's in laws

The AYDM should provide land in Yoruba land and resettle the Itsekiris there.

The Aworis are complaining of marginalization by the upland Yorubas. The Egun is complaining same. Insecurity and ritualistic are ravaging Yoruba land . Instead of looking into these, AYDM prefer to wake trouble in the Niger Delta.

I which these AYDM Agberos Goodluck. They should extend their expansionist greed to the Urhobos , IJAWS etc.

We blame Fulani for encroaching on the geographical space of others as in iIorin. Guess Yorubas want to start same using AYDM as a SPV.

Which part of Nigeria enjoys dividend of democracy? I just don't know why it so hard for this leader to ask for regional government.

That can never be a priority for now.

Make una put una house in order

Yorubas are rich enough to form there own nation. No wonder they don't really care about one Nigeria. Yorubas are good on their own

Esama:
Which part of Nigeria enjoys dividend of democracy? I just don't know why it so hard for this leader to ask for regional government.

U spoke my mind.

...

It's like some groups are created for the sole purpose of promoting a sense of victimization.

..

They should go and meet Atikulation Abubakar that they voted for, and the useless thieves that have been Delta State governors since 1999 including the the Guinness book record holder High Chief James Ibori. Shameless people