Ikwerre Deserves a Ministerial Position

Daily Independent (Lagos)

23 May 2011

Ikwerre Deserves a Ministerial Position

Okachikwu Dibia

opinion

Abuja — Since 1960 when Nigeria became an independent state, no Ikwerre person has ever been appointed as a substantive minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Yet Ikwerre is a distinct ethnic nationality in Nigeria.

Ikwerre is peopled with about two million heads and has four local government areas. Port Harcourt, the political capital of Rivers State and the oil city of West Africa is owned by Ikwerre. Ikwerre is exceedingly rich in palm oil fruits, tropical agriculture and the best host society in the Atlantic Coast of Nigeria. We are a conservative and peaceful people. We have served Nigeria very meritoriously especially during the civil war when we fought on both sides to ensure the unity of Nigeria. Ikwerre was one of the most beautiful brides of the civil war crisis.

Ikwerre hosts a lot of the operational bases of the multinational oil and gas companies that contribute immensely to the wealth of Nigeria. Besides, Ikwerre hosts very key government institutions in the Niger Delta, yet, our people still suffer lack of federal representation in the executive and judicial arms of the Federal Government of Nigeria...