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| WARRI- The Ijaw youths council (IYC) world-wide under the National President of Barr, Oweilaemi Roland Pereotubo has said the Benin kingdom continuous threats by the Benin land grabers could not make the Ijaws to lose their lands for the them and warned not to dare Ijaw territories.
 IYC National President Pereotubo Oweilaemi made this is a press statement made available to Daily Watch reporter in Warri, said ‘‘that continuous threats by the Benin land grabers to colonise the Ijaws in Edo State is an effort commited so far in futility. The Oba of Benin and his subjects should not in anyway think that the Ijaw nation will be intimidated by their continuous threats of forceful eviction.’’
Oweilaemi said the Ijaws in the State are in their aboriginal lands. ‘‘Our history there even predated the history of Benin people in that part of the Country. No amount of threats will cow the Ijaw man to submit his land to the Oba of Benin or any other person no matter the threats of aggression.
‘‘We are not surprised by the recent outburst by some unscrupulous and idle minds masquerading as Benin leaders who in their usually boisterous characteristics have threatened to evict the Ijaws in the State from their ancestral lands. IYC sees the press release issued by these troublesomely war mongerers otherwise known as Benin leaders which was published in the Vanguard Newspaper of 14th February 2018 edition as another ranting by toothless bulldogs who can only bark but cannot bite.
‘‘The Ijaws have never been conquered. We are equal to the task. None of our territories in Edo State will be given to Oba of Benin or his acolytes. We are not under his over lordship and so he cannot Lord over us. We are distinct people with distinct custom and tradition. Now that the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki in his ingenuity is making frantic efforts to maintain peace in the State, we implore our Benin brothers to join the Governor in his peace drive.
‘‘The wind of discord they are blowing in the State will not do us any good. We have been living together as brothers in the State for centuries. The Ijaws who were not at any time being colonised by the Benin people cannot be colonised now. It’s our sincere advice that they hid the voice reasons. Those who are fanning the ember discord should be ready to apply fire extinguisher to quench the likely ethnic conflagration that may shake the foundation of our existence. We pray that our selfish and greedy actions should not take us to that regrettable end’’ the statement admonished.
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