The Governor of Rivers state, Siminalayi Fubara, has insisted that the people of Opobo make up an integral part of the history of the Ijaw struggle and that makes him a true Ijaw son.
Fubara stated this on Friday, during his meeting with the Regent and other representatives of Kalabari Se Kobiri at Government House, Port Harcourt.
He dismissed insinuations in some quarters that labeled him as a non-Ijaw, saying such persons were not conversant with the history of the struggle that made Ijaw a reputable class of people.
This was contained in a statement issued by the media aide to the governor, Boniface Onyedi.
The statement quoted the governor as saying, “So, whoever is feeding you with that information should go back to their history classes. You cannot talk about the Ijaw struggle without the Opobo, the Bonny, and the Kalabari.
“We had our trade lines at that time and for you to occupy a trade line, it means you are a true Ijaw man. So, for the records, I am a full blooded, up to my bones, an Ijaw man.”
Fubara said Ijaw people are bold, courageous, and forthright people who, despite being subjected to inhuman treatment, did not succumb to being traded as slaves during the slave trade.