For about a year, I have deliberately avoided issues pertaining to the Ijaw nation. Not because I don’t understand my role as a stakeholder and a national executive of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide; but simply because I wanted to give the enemies of the Ijaw nation more time to expose themselves. Though some of the traitors are still camouflaged like a chameleon in the forest, it has become imperative that some of us raise our voices and speak against the cancerous trend engulfing the Ijaw nation.

What I call “Pull Down To Rise” syndrome, is gradually eating into the day-to-day lives of our people. This disease – with symptoms like envy, blackmail, fake news and propaganda – has become the main source of livelihood for well-respected Ijaw people. The sooner we isolate this disease – purge those of us already infected and cart a new course for our region – the quicker progress and development will knock on our doors.

The Ijaw nation is blessed with abundance! We have all we need! Developed nations crave for little things we have and overlook but, yet, we still live in abject anger, hate and poverty. Some may ask: “Where did we go wrong?” The answer to this question is clearly stated in Falz’s new song Hypocrite. Hypocrisy is the new cash-cow. Payoffs from blackmail fuel the cars of our leaders; propaganda and lies, shape our thoughts and define our next move. How can we grow in such a land?

Nothing works in our land anymore. Everything we set out to do is either dead on arrival or factionalised. Twenty-eight years after; where is the Ijaw National Congress (INC)? Twenty-one years after; what do we have left of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC)? Greed, envy and hate have enslaved our minds. We think we know the real enemy, but we don’t. The real enemy is ignorance. You think we have leaders? We Don’t! We have failed to understand that the so-called title – “Ijaw leader” – is now an appellation used to open vaults and rip off the region.

The solution is simply love and unity. Let us ignore propaganda, shun liars, and support ourselves unconditionally. Support those given leadership positions and respect those you are mandated to lead. That’s the only way to build a strong formidable force. The days of the traitors are numbered. The lies and blackmail will all be exposed in due time. We are blessed with abundance. We have all it takes to blossom. Join the train and fight for what is right: it won’t be long now. Victory is in sight.

•Idoniboyeobu, a Media Consultant, writes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Update news