Ijaw Traditional rulers condemns cattle colonies

Traditional rulers from Ijaw speaking communities  have rejected the thought of cattle colonies in any part of Ijawland.

This was part of a report issued at the end of a gathering in Yenagoa and chaired by first military governor of old Rivers State and Chairman, Bayelsa State traditional Rulers Council, Amanayabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred  Diete-Spiff.

The traditional rulers while condemning the killing of farmers by Fulani herdsmen “expressed total rejection of creating cattle colonies for cattle production on Ijaw territories.”

Restating the commitment of the Ijaw people, who have lived in time immemorial in at least, six states of the federation as indigenous people, to measure in peace and harmony with all their neighbours, they condemned the tendency in some states where Ijaws are aboriginal people but denied their cultural and economic rights and excluded from the political thought.

The monarchs expressed support for the continuing clamour for restructuring of the country in line with the aspirations of the founding fathers of the country like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Abukakar Tafawa Belewa, Dr. Ernest Ikoli, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye and stressed the urgency for fiscal federalism as the only remedy for sustainable peace, social justice, equity and fairness in Nigeria.

The report stated that the meeting approved the composition of an 11-member National Electoral Committee with rear admiral W. G. Yanga as chairman for the aim of organising a convention of the Ijaw National Congress (INC).

The traditional rulers also seized the chance to commend Governor Henry Seriake Dickson for the focused and purposeful manner in which he has championed matters relating the welfare of Ijaw people worldwide and in the development of Bayelsa State.