By John ODHE, YENAGOA
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Saturday, performed wreath-laying ceremony in honour of the late legendary Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro at the Ijaw Heroes Memorial Park in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Boro, an Ijaw hero, who fought and died for resource control and self realization for his people, is being commemorated on May 16th every year.
In Yenagoa, the Swali Ultra Modern Market and all stores were shutdown as youths matched through the major highways in remembrance of the Kaiama born freedom fighter.
The governor used the wreath laying moment to call on the people of Ijaw extraction across the country to shun clannish and partisan differences to pursue the collective interest of the Ijaw nation.
Represented by his deputy, Peter Akpe, the governor reminded the Ijaws and all who believe in the ideals of Boro, that mere speeches and processions on Boro days could not actualize the vision and plans he had for the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta region.
His words: “the greatest tribute we can pay to Major Adaka Boro is not in the wreaths we lay, however beautiful; nor in the speeches we deliver, however eloquent. It is not even in the processions we embark upon. It is in the unity we forge, the peace we keep, and the prosperity we build for generations yet unborn.
“So let us be united. Let us put clan, creek and party aside, and remember that we are first and foremost the children of one ancestor and the custodians of one heritage. A divided Ijaw nation cannot finish the work Boro began. But a united Ijaw nation cannot be denied its rightful place in the Nigerian federation.
“Distinguished compatriots, the struggle Boro began has not been in vain. Today, Bayelsa State stands as living proof that the seed he planted with his blood has germinated. Out of the Niger Delta volunteer service has grown a state, a people and a voice that is confident, organized and constitutionally recognized.”
While paying glowing tributes to tate Boro, his compatriots in the historic 12-day devolution and other patriotic Ijaw sons and daughters for fighting against oppression and marginalization, Diri stressed the need for stronger unity and cooperation amongst the people to achieve a better Ijaw nation.
He equally thanked the traditional rulers and elders for providing fatherly guidance, and urged the youths to embrace education and skills acquisition for them to be relevant in the scheme of things and make positive impact in society like Adaka Boro did.
He commended the youths for being peaceful throughout their Boro day processions, and advised them to sustain the reasonable gesture in subsequent celebrations, pointing out that destruction of public infrastructure and perpetration of criminal activities under the pretext of celebrating Boro would not advance the Ijaw struggle.
Earlier in his welcome address, the commissioner for Ijaw national affairs, Mr. Godspower Oporomor, highlighted the importance of Boro day, noting that the celebration will continue to provide Ijaw people an opportunity to honour the memory of the late legend and other freedom fighters who paid the supreme price with their lives for Ijaw nation.
Oporomor, who commended the state government for supporting the yearly celebration, added that Boro Day will not only enable upcoming children and youths to learn of the heroic exploits of their departed leaders but also inspire them to pursue the Ijaw struggle with better understanding and determination.
Also speaking, the chairman of Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE) His Royal Majesty King Bubaraye Dakolo, noted that although the Ijaw nation is relevant to the Nigerian federation in terms of its God-given natural resources, the fourth largest ethnic group is yet to have a fair share of its rights and opportunities in the country.
Dakolo, who is also the chairman of the Bayelsa State traditional rulers council, however, insisted that Ijaw nation can only attain its pride of place among the comity of ethnic nationalities, if Ijaw sons and daughters speak, act and work together for the common good of their land.
