Ibaji Riverine Communities Decry Marginalization, Seek Governor Ododo’s Intervention

The Riverine Communities of Ibaji Local Government Area, Kogi State, have appealed to Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo to address what they describe as deliberate political marginalization in favour of upland communities.

The appeal was made on Tuesday by the Ibaji Riverine Environmental Rights Advocates (IRERA) during a press briefing in Lokoja.

Speaking on behalf of the group, its spokesperson, Uchola Ojoagefu Andrew, accused successive administrations of systematically sidelining the Riverine communities, despite their sacrifices to safeguard crude oil deposits in the area.

He noted that in the newly constituted Kogi Oil Producing Area Development Commission (KGSODC) and other political appointments for Ibaji LGA, only the council chairman is from the Riverine, while all other key positions are held by individuals from upland communities.

According to him, the Member representing Ibaji State Constituency and Deputy Speaker, Mrs. Comfort Egwaba; the Commissioner for Agriculture; the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor; the Majority Leader of the Council Legislature; the Chief of Staff to the Council Chairman; the LG Treasurer; the Secretary to the LGC; and the Managing Director of KGSODC are all from the uplands.

“Even as low as the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ibaji Chapter, was taken by the upland without any consideration for the Riverine people  the very ones who lay the golden eggs for the LGA,” Ojoagefu lamented.

He explained that Ibaji is geographically divided into upland and Riverine communities, but claimed that political opportunities from both federal and state levels have been deliberately skewed against the Riverine.

Ojoagefu also expressed dissatisfaction over the push for the uplands to produce the next House of Representatives member, noting that the former representative, who served two terms, was also from the uplands.

“The situation where the Managing Director of KGSODC and the three members representing host communities on the board are all from the upland is unacceptable. The Riverine communities, who shed their blood to protect the crude oil, have been left like orphans to perpetually lick the wounds of marginalisation,” he said.

He urged Governor Ododo to investigate the political dynamics of Ibaji, stressing that the governor’s record of fairness and inclusivity could help correct the “age-long political imbalance.”

“What we are begging for is for him to consider our plight by correcting the injustice perpetuated by our brothers and sisters from the upland against us. We have become political slaves in our own LGA,” Ojoagefu stated.

The group emphasised that the Riverine communities control a voting population capable of swinging election victories in Ibaji, warning against allowing “selfish interests” to misrepresent the politics of the LGA ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Governor Ododo, as the father of the state, should urgently put machinery in motion to address our plight,” the group appealed.