A coalition of Ijaw groups across the Niger Delta region on the platform of Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, Wednesday, issued the Bayelsa State governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, a seven-day ultimatum to revoke the allocation of 1,200 hectares of land the state government allocated to Fulani herdsmen for grazing or face a mass shutdown of all government facilities across the state.
Also, mothers of Ijaw nation, led by Niger Delta activist, Ms AnnKio Briggs, have slated a mass protest in Yenagoa, the state capital, on February 14, to occupy the state until Governor Dickson rescinds his decision.
Other Ijaw mothers, who resolved at a meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to occupy Bayelsa from February 14 are the leader of Ijaw Women Council, IWC, Rosemary Naingba, aka Aweke-Ere I, national legal adviser, Borno Fetepigi Obhe, national secretary, Mrs. Ebisidor Bribebe, chairman, IWC, Eastern zone, Mrs. Brassba Jack.
IPDI, in a statement by its acting spokesperson, Mr. Mayor Ogobiri, said: “We are giving Governor Dickson seven days ultimatum to revoke Bayelsa land allocated to herdsmen or face mass shut down of all government facilities across the state because we do not want a repeat of the massacre that happened recently at Southern Kaduna in our state.
“We are warning Governor Dickson that the blood of any Bayelsan is worth much more than thousands of cows. He should fight for human rights and not animal rights.
“It is unfortunate that Dickson is now carried away by his pursuit for Northern relationship and more political power at the national level come 2019 and he is blind to the activities of the marauding herdsmen, which pose grave danger to peaceful co-existence in Nigeria.
“The act of the Bayelsa State Government is treacherous and a clear betrayal of Bayelsans who voted him to power. This is a critical period in our nation. We do not want our women raped and killed, we do not want our children defiled, we do not want our kings to be kidnapped and killed, and we do not want AK-47 wielding herdsmen within Bayelsa State.
“We want to unequivocally state that Dickson is inviting terrorists to Bayelsa State by allocating grazing lands to killer-squads under the guise of herdsmen. If we may ask, how many free fishing rivers and farmlands have Northern governors allocated to southerners to carry out fishing and farming businesses in the North?
“Dickson is doing eye service to the Northerners for political alignment. He is exposing the Ijaw of Bayelsa State to unnecessary danger, we now live in fear. We will wage war against Dickson within the confines of the law on his genocidal mission against the future of Ijaw people.”
