Edo Ijaw Youths Lament Deepening Marginalisation as Governor Okpebholo Marks One Year in Office

By Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
Global Egberi Media International

As Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration celebrates its first anniversary, a rising wave of dissatisfaction is sweeping across the coastal belt of Edo State, where the Ijaw people—custodians of the state’s oil-rich territories—say they have been pushed to the edges of political relevance, development, and recognition.

In a strongly worded statement issued on December 2, 2025, the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, voiced what many across the five Ijaw clans in Edo State describe as “a painful but long-standing truth”: that despite their decisive role in the emergence of Governor Okpebholo, the Ijaw nation has been left behind in the corridors of governance.

According to the IYC, the Ijaws mobilised unprecedented support during the elections, turning out in unity and strength to help deliver victory to the current administration. Their fishing communities, riverine settlements, and traditional kingdoms stood firmly behind the Governor at a time when their support was most needed.

Yet, one year later, the IYC says the administration has not reciprocated this loyalty.

A Year of Silence and Unfulfilled Promises

The Council expressed deep disappointment over the complete absence of Ijaw representation in the State Executive Council. Not a single appointment—not even one Commissioner—from the Ijaw extraction has been considered, a situation the youths describe as “a symbol of exclusion too glaring to ignore.”

Beyond political appointments, the IYC lamented the glaring infrastructural decay in Ijaw communities. From abandoned roads and unsafe jetties to the absence of government presence in critical sectors, the statement paints a troubling picture of communities left to survive on their own.

Equally troubling, according to the Council, is the continued neglect of traditional institutions. Several issues affecting Ijaw royal stools and heritage remain unresolved, despite repeated engagements and reminders.

Oil Wealth Without Reward

The IYC reminded the Governor that it is the Ijaw areas of Edo State that produce the oil wealth elevating Edo as an oil-producing state. It is from their waters and lands that the 13% derivation fund flows into the state’s coffers.

Yet, ironically, these same communities do not feel the impact of the revenue they generate.

“This is not a cry of entitlement,” the statement reads. “It is a demand for fairness, equity, and justice.”

A Call for Rethink Before Agitation Reawakens

As the Governor celebrates one year in office, the IYC urged him to reflect deeply on the plight of the Ijaw nation. The youths warned that the growing sense of alienation could evolve into a broader agitation if left unaddressed.

“No ethnic group should feel sidelined in a government they supported with heart and strength,” the Council emphasized.

The statement was jointly signed by:

• Comr. Nicholas Igrama, Chairman, IYC Western Zone

• Barr. Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo, Secretary

• Comr. Tare Magbei, Information Officer

Their message is clear: this is a turning point. Either the state moves toward inclusiveness, or it risks widening the gulf between government and the very communities that fuel its economy.

At a time when the winds of political consciousness are blowing across Nigeria’s minority regions, the call for fairness in Edo State cannot be ignored.

— Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi, reporting for Global Egberi Media International