The President of the Ijaw Nation Congress, Professor Benjamin Okaba, has refuted claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that the Ijaw people are a minority ethnic group in Nigeria. Okaba attributed Wike’s statement to possible “alcohol influence” and labeled him a “careless speaker.”
Wike’s comments, made during a recent press address regarding the political situation in Rivers State involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara, an Ijaw, sparked controversy.
Speaking on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Professor Okaba, a sociologist, asserted that the Ijaws are among Nigeria’s four largest ethnic groups. He emphasized that Ijaw territories extend beyond land boundaries, encompassing significant water areas.
“The person you’re talking about could say anything under the influence of alcohol and later debunk it; he is a very careless speaker,” Okaba stated. “These are basic demographics that are well-known. Ijaws are not the fourth largest; they are one of the four largest.”
He further clarified that the Ijaws are the most populous indigenous ethnic group in the Niger Delta, residing across six states: Bayelsa, Abia, Delta, Edo, Ondo, and Rivers. Okaba dismissed Wike’s assertion as a “deliberate distortion of fact.”
“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 reiterated, citing the presence of Ijaw communities in various local government areas within these states.
Okaba urged President Bola Tinubu to prevent any individual from undermining democratic efforts, implying that Wike’s influence is tied to his government position.
Under Alcohol Influence, Wike can say anything— Ijaw Nation President
