When my attention was drawn to an interview that was granted by a renowned media czar, elder Asu Beks, the president of Ijaw Media Forum, on Sunday 8th June, 2025, wherein he was quoted to have said that “Ijaws will disown Gov. Diri if he defects to APC”, I took the above with a pinch of salt knowing Asu Beks’s love and undiluted support for Gov. Diri.
But beyond the above, the fact remains that elder Asu Beks lacks the power to speak for the whole Ijaw Nation since he is not the leader or mouthpiece of Ijaw National Congress (INC) or Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) which are the two umbrella bodies of Ijaws all over the world.
It is pertinent to state categorically from the onset that his position falls short of all judgements. This is very key considering the fact that his position is a negation and a direct infringement on the fundamental rights of the person of the Governor.
His interview fell flat because it violates all known human laws in the world beginning with the 1949 Geneva Convention to the 1981 African Charter on Human and People’s Rights to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution As Amended, particularly sections: 38, 39 and 40 that deals with freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association and freedom of movement.
Again, it is an aberation to describe the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that was formed in 1998 as Ijaw traditional party, whereas, Ijaws through different political parties have been playing politics since the pre-independence era to the independent Nigerian state.
Ijaws in Ijaw Nation which is the dominant tribe in the geographic Niger Delta region (South South geo-political zone) are in Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Rivers and Bayelsa which is the only homogenous Ijaw state in Nigeria. We also have Ijaws in Abia, Imo and Ondo when we talk about the Political Niger Delta states that was created by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000 with the establishment of the NDDC. Out of the above mentioned states, over 95% of the states and Governors are in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), why is it that Elder Asu Beks has not mobilized Ijaws to disown the Governors of those states?
Political parties can be likened to vehicles that convey humans and goods from one destination to another. What is most important in this context is the safety of the humans and the destination, which in this case is the access to instruments of state power that aid or gives it’s possessor control of the means of distribution of scarce resources.
Now, is there any sane mind that will remain in a faulty vehicle especially when it has become obvious that the fault it developed is almost beyond repair?
Is Elder Asu Beks saying that he is not seeing what is happening in PDP, where few individuals have hijacked the party and they are running it as their individual estate?
Is he not seeing how few individuals are hiding under different guises to insult, abuse and even attempt to intimidate others because of membership of parties?
Did Elder Asu Beks ever thought about what will happen with the irreconcilable differences in PDP and nomination of Candidates in the forthcoming 2027 General Elections?
Did he think about the fate of candidates of different elections if courts nullify their nominations for whatever reason because of the lingering crisis in PDP?
Is Asu Beks saying that he is not aware of how leaders of PDP including the then National Chairman Alhaji Mua’zu betrayed President Goodluck Jonathan during the 2015 Presidential Election, so which Ijaw party is he talking about?
Unfortunately, Elder Asu Beks did not enumerated the benefits of Bayelsa state remaining in PDP when majority of the states in South South, South West and South East have aligned with the government at the centre.
Critical stakeholders should be more interested in development of Bayelsa state that is the Jerusalem and headquarters of Ijaw Nation and not the political party that the Governor belongs considering the fact that political party is a mere nomenclature.
Bayelsans and indeed the entire Ijaw should be interested in a partnership, collaboration and relationship that will attract unprecedented growth, development and prosperity to the Ijaw Nation.
Elder Asu Beks who is an expert in Maritime activities know the overwhelming importance of the Agge Seaport. What we expect is to encourage anything and everything that will lead to the actualization of that Seaport knowing it’s far reaching positive implications to the growth and economic prosperity of Ijaws and others.
Gov. Douye Diri has never said anywhere that he was defecting from PDP to APC or any other political party even though it is his constitutional right, but if he does, I know that he will have the total blessing and support of the Ijaw Nation and Bayelsans in particular who appreciate the great works that he is doing in the state.
The Governor is known for his humility, accessibility, thoughtfulness, thorough nature and team spirit. He does not work or do things in a hurry or in isolation. Thus, even if he makes up his mind to align politically with the government at the centre in the over all interest of Bayelsans and the Ijaw Nation in general, he will consult widely to ensure that he has the support and endorsement of vast majority of the people.
– Hon. Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli
Technical Adviser to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State on Media and Public Affairs.