Post by Lekee Unfiltered (@jude_callister)
“Our next battleground is Edo State. We cannot allow the Ijaws in Edo state to continue in the condition that they are.” — Nigerian Politician, Asari Dokubo
The former militant leader made this declaration on Saturday, 20 June 2026, during an interview on Gbaramatu Voice TV. He was speaking at the 2026 Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide Manifesto Presentation and Debate in Degema, Rivers State.
Dokubo, who holds the traditional title of Amayanabo of Torusarama-Piri, Elem Kalabari, described the condition of Ijaw communities in Edo as "oppression" that is "unbearable". He specifically highlighted riverine areas like Ovia South-West and Ovia North-East local governments, pointing to poor infrastructure, limited access to education and healthcare, and inadequate political representation.
"We did not form this organization for this fine fine things," he told the gathering. His message was clear — the organization was established to pursue a cause, not for pleasure or social gatherings.
But here is where it gets complicated.
The declaration triggered a wave of defensive security alerts and panic across neighboring Bini and Ondo State territories. Critics are now warning that the political tide is turning inward against Benin Kingdom interests.
A civic advocacy group, Aiguobasinmwin Movement Worldwide, has called on Dokubo to exercise restraint. Its president, Iyamu Osaro Culture, urged him to respect Benin tradition and stay out of trouble. "Matters of history, boundaries, and ancestral lands are sensitive and are best resolved through Benin Traditional Council, legal institutions, and government-mediated dialogue," he said.
Even more concerning, indigenous groups in Ondo State are bracing for what they fear could be aggressive legal and electoral challenges. There are long-standing allegations of systemic territorial expansion and aggressive land encroachment leveled against moving Ijaw settlements. One communal security advocate warned communities to fiercely protect their borders: "Never allow even one Ijaw person to set up a small fishing camp on your land. Give them two weeks and you will return to find 20 of them permanently settled there".
Now let me ask you.
Is Dokubo genuinely fighting for Ijaw rights or is this a power play for political control?
What happens when ethnic groups start declaring "battlegrounds" inside other people's ancestral lands?
How much of the suffering he describes is real marginalization versus a lack of political representation?
And the biggest question — will this rhetoric lead to dialogue or bloodshed?
This is Lekee Unfiltered. Unscripted. Unafraid.
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#lekeelekee #AsariDokubo #EdoState #Ijaw #BeninKingdom #NigeriaPolitics #EthnicTension #NigerDelta #Trending #Unfiltered #LandDispute
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