Militancy, No Longer A Weapon for Ijaw Struggle – INC President Says, Opts for Intellectual Engagements

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) says it will no longer deploy militancy or any form armed struggle in pursuing its objectives, opting rather for intellectualization of the struggle for true federalism and resource control.

National President of INC, Professor Benjamin Okaba said this on Monday, October 20, 2025 during the inauguration of the INC’s Eastern Zone Executive at Abuloma in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He stated that his executive arrived at consensus for a paradigm shift from the previous to the new posture, stressing that the strongest weapon for the struggle now is the pen which he maintained is more dangerous than the sword.

The newly inaugurated executives of the Ijaw National Congress, Eastern Zone has Abel Peterside as Chairman, Karibo Lawrence, Vice Chairman, Julius Ijente, Secretary, Adagogo Jaja, Financial Secretary, and Chief Abie Davis, Treasurer.

Others are His Royal Highness, King Dr. Emmanuel Isijana Samuel Owurong, Publicity Secretary, Daopuye Percus, Auditor, Emmanuel Igbiks, Assistant Secretary, Maureen Danagogo, Women Affairs Secretary, and Alabo Ibiye Dokubo, Legal Adviser.

The INC President called for unity among diverse groups in the Ijaw nation, stressing that the era of violence is gone, adding that time has come for the Ijaws to intellectually fight to nationalize and internationalize their struggles.

He revealed that his executive has intervened in various crisis within the Ijaw nation as well as held several engagements within and outside the country with the view to projecting the Ijaw course.

Describing INC as a liberation movement, he averred that INC will continue to speak out against oppression and denial by government of the Ijaws to control their resources.

He also said that the national executive is looking at issues of unity and how to confront the Nigerian state that has marginalized the Ijaws over the years, calling for mass mobilization of the Ijaws for the forthcoming National Population Census and the ongoing INEC voter registration exercise.

He further called on all the zones of the INC to as a matter of urgency embark on political education and sensitization with the view to equipping the people ahead of future elections.

On his part, the Amanyanabo of Abuloma Kingdom in the Port Harcourt City LGA, His Royal Highness, King Bright Ateke Fiboinumama charged the new leadership to be active and alive to their responsibilities, noting that the era of bad leadership in the Eastern Zone of the INC is gone.

The Abuloma Monarch, who is also the Chairman of the Congress of Ijaw Traditional Rulers, described the election that ushered in the new executive as fair and transparent, calling on those aggrieved to bury their differences and join hands with the new zonal executive to move the congress forward.

King Fiboinumama also enjoined them to run an inclusive administration and avoid things that will plunge the congress into crisis.

Outgone Chairman of the Eastern Zone of the INC, His Royal Highness, King Nla Iraron, Ede Obolo II, who is now the Okan-Ama of Egwede in Andoni LGA of Rivers State, regretted that the political crisis in the State affected the performance of his executive.

He noted despite that, his executive still made some achievements within the period under review such as purchasing a piece of land for the permanent secretariat of the INC Eastern Zone, and resisting the remapping attempt by the immediate past administration in Akwa Ibom State which would have reduced the territory of the Obolo Ijaws in the State.

The monarch stressed the need for the INC to align with the vison of its founding fathers, urging the new executive in the zone to put Ijaw interest above personal interest.

In a chat with newsmen, the newly inaugurated Chairman of the Eastern Zone of the INC, Peterside Bertram said the unity of the Ijaw race in the zone remains the focus of his executive, expressing gratitude to members for the confidence reposed in him.

He pledged not to disappoint them as his administration will mainstream transparency and inclusivity, while honouring and celebrating the achievements of the past.