President Tinubu Urged to Rectify Centuries of Injustice against Itsekiri 

In a bold and punchy letter to President Bola Tinubu, the Alliance of Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM) demanded action to address the long-standing historical injustice suffered by the Itsekiri indigenous ethnic group. For centuries, the Itsekiri, a population of approximately 1.5 million people residing in Delta and Edo States, have been classified as minorities in the Niger Delta region, depriving them of fair access to political, economic, and social opportunities.

The AYDM, representing 121 Pan Yoruba groups spanning Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Edo, Kwara, Kogi and the West African Coast, highlighted the unique and significant contributions of the Itsekiri to African cultural and economic growth over more than 1000 years. Despite their rich civilization and invaluable resources, successive governments have exploited their ancestral territories, leaving the Itsekiri with little or no benefits in return.

In the letter signed by the AYDM General Secretary Popoola Ajayi and Secretary for Mobilization, Chief Kunle Oshodi, AYDM pointed out that the Itsekiri contribute 35% of Nigeria’s oil and gas production but receive meagre benefits in exchange. The absence of economic landmarks, industries, and adequate employment opportunities in oil companies within their region is glaring. Even at the federal level, Itsekiri individuals are rarely appointed to key positions, with no representation in prominent bodies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) since 1999.

AYDM emphasized that, remarkably, the Itsekiri have never resorted to violence, vandalism of oil pipelines, bunkering, or oil theft, despite facing repression, oil pollution, and exclusion. They stressed that the Presidency should acknowledge and reward peaceful conduct, not just appease groups that threaten violence and armed insurrection.

The coalition praised President Tinubu’s recognition of the late Pa Alfred Rewane, a financial backbone of the resistance against military rule, by naming a prominent street in Lagos after him. They urged Tinubu to correct the historical injustice against the Itsekiri by making significant industrial investments in their homeland and appointing Itsekiri representatives to federal positions. Such actions would demonstrate a commitment to ending the chain of repression the Itsekiri have endured and justify their commitment to non-violence.

In conclusion, AYDM called on President Tinubu to stand for justice and provide the Itsekiri people with a sense of belonging and fair representation, as their land continues to contribute immensely to Nigeria’s prosperity.