The President of the Ijaw National Congress, Professor Benjamin Okaba, has criticized the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for his statement regarding the Ijaw ethnic group. Okaba described Wike as a reckless speaker who often makes baseless claims.
Wike stirred controversy during a recent interview where he referred to the Ijaws as a minority group in Nigeria. His remarks have drawn strong reactions, particularly from the Ijaw community, which views the statement as an attempt to downplay their historical and demographic significance.
Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Prof. Okaba dismissed Wike’s statement as unfounded. He stated that the Ijaws are not a minority group but one of the four largest ethnic groups in Nigeria. He further pointed out that their territorial influence extends beyond land borders into the waterways.
“The person you’re talking about (Wike) could say anything under the influence of alcohol and later debunk it; he is a very careless speaker. These are basic demographics that are well-known. Ijaws are not the fourth largest; they are one of the four largest,” Okaba said.
The professor also argued that the Ijaws are the most populous ethnic group in the Niger Delta region, with communities spread across six states. He listed Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Rivers, and Abia as states where Ijaw people have a significant presence.
“We are not minorities, in fact, we are the most populous and most indigenous ethnic nationality in the Niger Delta, that’s a fact that is well known. Ijaws are in six states,” he noted.
Okaba further explained that in Abia State alone, there are 26 Ijaw communities, while Delta State has over four local government areas with Ijaw presence. He also claimed that in Rivers State, the Ijaws are spread across more than ten local government areas, making Wike’s claim inaccurate.
“They are in Abia. 26 communities in Abia State are indigenous Ijaw people. So we felt that was a deliberate distortion. In Delta State, we have more than four local government areas; even in Rivers State, we have 10 and a half local government areas, and Ikwerre has three. Forget about those who distorted political census figures; when the time comes for real counting, we shall know them. Ijaws are in Ondo State; they are in Edo State,” he said.
Prof. Okaba also urged President Bola Tinubu to take note of Wike’s actions, warning that his statements and influence could undermine democratic progress in the country. He described Wike as someone whose relevance is tied to being in government and urged the president to prevent individuals like him from causing political instability.
