INC president slams Wike over minority ethnic group remark

The President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Benjamin Okaba, has launched a scathing attack on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his recent remarks labeling the Ijaw people as a minority ethnic group in Nigeria.

In a fiery response on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Professor Okaba dismissed Wike’s statement as reckless and baseless, even suggesting that the former Rivers State governor was speaking under the influence of alcohol.

Appearing on Arise Television’s The Morning Show, Okaba cautioned President Bola Tinubu against allowing Wike to undermine democratic principles in Nigeria.

According to the sociology professor, Wike, an Ikwerre-born politician, has no real political influence outside government circles and is known for making unguarded statements.

Reacting to Wike’s controversial comments made during a media briefing on the ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State, Okaba emphatically refuted the claim that the Ijaw people are a minority.

Instead, he asserted that the Ijaw nation is one of Nigeria’s four largest ethnic groups, with its territorial expanse extending beyond land areas into the country’s riverine regions.

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“The person you’re talking about could say anything under the influence of alcohol and later retract it. He is a very careless speaker,” Okaba stated. “These are basic demographics that are well-known. The Ijaw people are not the fourth largest; they are among the four largest ethnic groups in Nigeria.”

He further explained that traditional demographic measurements often overlook water-dwelling communities, which significantly contribute to the Ijaw population.

“Most times, we only look at land mass, but land cannot exist without water. The boundaries of the Ijawland extend beyond land into Nigeria’s river spaces,” he noted.

Professor Okaba also highlighted the widespread presence of the Ijaw people across several Nigerian states, reinforcing their status as a major ethnic nationality.

Contrary to Wike’s claim, he emphasized that the Ijaw people are the most populous ethnic group in the Niger Delta region, with indigenous communities in at least six states.

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“We are not minorities; in fact, we are the most populous and most indigenous ethnic nationality in the Niger Delta. That is a fact that is well known. The Ijaw people are in six states,” he declared.

According to him, apart from Bayelsa State, the Ijaw people are indigenous to communities in Rivers, Delta, Edo, Ondo, and even Abia State.

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He pointed out that the Ijaw presence in Abia is often overlooked, with 26 communities in the state identified as belonging to the ethnic group.

“In Delta State, we have more than four local government areas; in Rivers State, we have ten and a half local government areas, while the Ikwerre people have only three. Forget about the manipulated political census figures. When the time comes for a proper population count, we shall see the truth,” Okaba asserted.

He further emphasized that the Ijaw people have a strong presence in Edo and Ondo States, underscoring their historical and demographic significance.

Professor Okaba accused Wike of intentionally distorting historical and demographic facts to fit his political narrative. He urged the public to disregard the FCT minister’s remarks, describing them as a deliberate misrepresentation of the Ijaw identity.

“This was a deliberate distortion. The Ijaw people are spread across Nigeria and have been instrumental in the nation’s economic and political history. Such misleading comments should not be taken seriously,” he said.

Okaba’s response comes amid rising political tensions in Rivers State, where Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, an Ijaw man, have been embroiled in a prolonged power struggle.

Many believe Wike’s recent comments are part of a broader attempt to weaken the Ijaw influence in the state’s political landscape.