Caution Wike For Nat’l Cohesion, Human Rghts Lawyers Urge Tinubu

Some human rights lawyers have called on President Bola Tinubu to wade into the matter of derogatory remarks by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike on the Ijaw ethnic Nationality.

Wike had said the Ijaw Nation is not a major ethnic nationality in Nigeria but “a minority in minorities in Rivers and other South-South States except Bayelsa” during a TV interview.

This led to protests across the Niger Delta states where the Ijaw people predominantly occupy.

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, the human rights lawyers, Deji Adeyanju, Maxwell Opara, Marshal Abubakar, and Comrade Chinonso Obasi condemned Wike’s derogatory comment which is already heating up the Niger Delta region.

According to Deji Adeyanju, such a comment on a whole ethnic nationality was unpleasant, hence, needed to be addressed immediately.

He pointed out that the Ijaw Nation is the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria and for anyone to say anything on the contrary means ignorance.

“The so-called 13% derivation that the Niger Delta is enjoying today wouldn’t have been a reality without the Ijaws. Are we talking about the sacrifices of Isaac Adaka Boro, Ken Saro Wiwa and other environmental activists who fought against Shell, Mobile and others on the oil pollution in the Niger Delta? Deji added”.

On his part, a member of the citizens liberty committee of the NBA, Maxwell Okpara commended the Ijaw Nation for not taking laws into their hands, urging the president to act immediately as the remark against them can lead to chaos.

Okpara further described Wike’s comment as amounting to violation of rights, because the constitution cautions against discriminating against anybody.

Earlier, another rights activist, Marshall Abubakar said the disagreement between Wike and his political god son governor Siminalayi Fubara shouldn’t have led to such derogatory remarks.

In addition, a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Chinonso Obasi who condemned the derogatory remarks called on president Tinubu to call Wike to order to avoid any form of unrest in the region in the interest of all residents.

Garry Ochigbo, Edited By Grace Namiji