Asari Dokubo declares Edo ‘Next Battleground’ for Ijaw rights over marginalization claims
community News
Degema, Rivers – Prominent Ijaw leader and Amayanabo of Torusarama-Piri, Elem Kalabari, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Asari Dokubo, has spotlighted the plight of Ijaw communities in Edo State, describing the state as the next major front in the struggle for Ijaw rights and development.
Speaking at the 2026 Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide Manifesto Presentation and Debate in Degema, Rivers State, Dokubo delivered a passionate call to action.
The respected monarch, a former president of the IYC and influential voice in Niger Delta affairs, expressed deep concern over what he termed the systematic marginalisation of Ijaw people in Edo, particularly in riverine areas such as Ovia South-West and Ovia North-East local government areas.
He urged the IYC and broader Ijaw stakeholders to intensify focus on issues including poor infrastructure, limited access to education and healthcare, inadequate political representation, and perceived neglect despite the presence of oil-related activities in the region.
Ijaw communities form part of the diverse ethnic fabric in southern Edo State, where riverine groups have long engaged in fishing, farming, and, more recently, interactions with the oil industry.
Advocates for these communities have repeatedly highlighted developmental deficits such as bad roads, lack of basic amenities, and under-representation, contrasting them with benefits accruing to other parts of the state.
Dokubo’s remarks come amid heightened ethnic and political sensitivities in Edo State.
This latest declaration underscores ongoing debates about minority rights, equitable development, and ethnic inclusion in Nigeria’s oil-rich but often underdeveloped Niger Delta.
Further reactions from Edo State government officials and other stakeholders are anticipated in the coming days.
