The Ijaw people, otherwise known as the Ijo people, are an ethnic group found in the Niger Delta in Nigeria, with significant population clusters in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers. They also occupy Edo, Ondo, and small parts of Akwa Ibom. Many are found as migrant fishermen in camps as far west as Sierra Leone and as far east as Gabon. They account for about 1.8% of the Nigerian population according to CIA Factbook. The Ijaws are one of the most populous tribes inhabiting the Niger Delta region and the eighth largest ethnic group in Nigeria.
Bayelsa state is a state in the South South region of Nigeria, located in the core of the Niger Delta. Bayelsa State was created in 1996 and was carved out from Rivers State, making it one of the newest states in the federation. The capital, Yenagoa, is susceptible to high risk of annual flooding. It shares a boundary with Rivers State to the east and Delta State to the north across the Niger River for 17 km and the Forçados River for 198 km, with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean dominating its southern borders. It has a total area of 10,773 square kilometres (4,159 sq mi). The state comprises eight local government areas: Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Yenagoa, Nembe, Ogbia, Sagbama, Brass and Southern Ijaw. The state is the smallest in Nigeria by population as of the 2006 census. Being in the Niger Delta, Bayelsa State has a riverine and estuarine setting, with bodies of water within the state preventing the development of significant road infrastructure.
Yenagoa is a Local Government Area and capital city of Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria. It is located at the Niger-Delta region of the country at coordinates 4°55′29″N6°15′51″E.
Bayelsa United FC is a football club based in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, Nigeria. They play in the Premier division of Nigerian football, the Nigeria Professional Football League. Their home games are played at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Ovom, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Ocean Boys Football Club was a Nigerian football club based in Brass, Bayelsa State.
The Bassan tribe (Basan) of the Ijaw people lives in western Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Bassan settlements include: Ezetu, Koloama, Sangana, Foropah, Ukubie, Lubia, Azuzuama, Akparatubo, and Ekeni.
The Epie and Atissa are two Nations that live along Epie Creek, northeast of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Together, they are commonly known as the Epie-Atissa. The influx of the Engenni migrants to the present location of Epie-Atissa led to its expansion. The Engenni people belong to the Edoid group who share cultural similarity with the Ijaw and the Engenni.
The Gbaran tribe of the Ijaw people lives along Taylor Creek in central Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Gbarain settlements include: Okotiama, Polaku, Obunagha, Ogboloma, Nedugo, Agbia, kumboama, Okolobiri, Koroama, Ayama, Tuniama and Asaingbene. Okotiama is the senior community. The close proximity of Gbaran villages along Taylor Creek has helped them maintain their shared cultural traditions. The clan god is Gbaran Ziba.
Heineken Lokpobiri is a Nigerian politician who is the minister of state for Petroleum Resources (Oil). He previously served as minister of state for Agriculture and Rural Development from 2015 to 2019, and as Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District from 2007 to 2015. He is a former speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
Melford Obiene Okilo had a long and distinguished career as a politician in Nigeria from the start of independence in 1960 until shortly before his death in 2008. He was a member of parliament (1956–1964) and a Minister in the Nigerian First Republic. He was the first elected Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria (1979–1983) during the Nigerian Second Republic. Later he was Senator for Bayelsa East, in Bayelsa State (1999–2003) during the Nigerian Fourth Republic.
Lt. Colonel (retired) Paul Edor Obi was Administrator of Bayelsa State, Nigeria from July 1998 to May 1999 during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Emmanuel Paulker is a Nigerian politician who was elected Senator for the Bayelsa Central constituency of Bayelsa State, Nigeria, taking office on 29 May 2007. He is a member of the UKIP.
Henry Seriake Dickson CON is a Nigerian lawyer and politician. He has been the Senator representing Bayelsa West since 2020 in the 9th National Assembly. He was the governor of Bayelsa State from 14 February 2012 to 14 February 2020. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2007 until 2012.
Gbenga Elegbeleye is a Nigerian sports administrator and a politician. Gbenga Elegbeleye is the Director-General of the National Sports Commission in Nigeria. He was a legislator in the House of Representatives (Nigeria).
Bayelsa Queens is a women football club based in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. They play in the top tier of the women's football league pyramid in Nigeria. They have won the NWFL Premiership five times and finished runners-up on four occasions.
The kidnapping of Ese Rita Oruru, the youngest child of Charles Oruru and Rose Oruru, occurred on 12 August 2015 at her mother's shop in Yenagoa local government area, Bayelsa State. Ese, who was 13 years old at the time, was abducted by a man named Yunusa Dahiru and taken to Kano, where she was raped, forcibly Islamized and married off without her parents' consent. The conversion and marriage took place in the palace of the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
Joseph Obinna Ogba is a Nigerian politician. He is the senator representing Ebonyi Central senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate. He is a member of the 8th National Assembly in Nigeria and also senator-elect in the 9th republic of the National Assembly.
Bayelsa Central senatorial district in Bayelsa State, Nigeria covers four local governments of Kolokuma/Opokuma, Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa which is the state capital. This district has 43 Registration Areas (RAs) and 789 polling units (PUs). The collation centre is Yenagoa LGA Council Hall.
The 2023 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election took place on 11 November 2023 to elect the Governor of Bayelsa State. Incumbent PDP Governor Douye Diri won reelection. The primaries were scheduled for between 27 March and 17 April 2022.
Abraham Ayebakepreye Amba Ambaiowei was a Nigerian nationalist and advocate for minority rights. He was a medical practitioner and public servant, serving in various capacities at the State and Federal Government levels. He served as Commissioner for Education and Labour, Employment and Productivity in the Old Rivers State. He also chaired the National Board for Technical Education under President Olusegun Obasanjo. Ambaiowei was involved in the movement for the creation of Bayelsa State, serving as Chairman of the Bayelsa Forum and the Bayelsa State Creation Movement. After the state's creation, he became the founding Chairman of the Bayelsa State Founding Fathers Forum.
