By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

The ancient Foropa Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has commended the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress, INC, and other stakeholders in Ijawland for the official recognition and elevation of Foropa Community to Foropa Clan Central .

The Foropa Clan Central delegation led by Chief Micheal Baghebo, stated this during the official handing over of the gazetted copy of the clanship certificate to the Foropa Central Clan by the President of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba, at the Ijaw House , on Tuesday.

Speaking during the presentation of certificate, the INC President, Prof Okaba, while congratulating the people of Foropa, disclosed that Foropa Clan Central .
was one of the newly recognized clans that was ratified at the INC Non Elective Congress, held on March 6, in Yenagoa.

He said: ” I want to formally congratulate Foropa in the Central Zone and there are other Foropa in Ijawland and Western Zone in particular, on the recognition of that clan as a clan of the Ijaw National Congress,INC.

“To give it some background, the INC Non-Elective Convention held on the 6 March as part of the recommendations of the National Representative Council, NRC, Foropa Clan was mentioned as one of the newly recognized clans of congress. With the ratification as enforced that day, Foropa remains so recognized and I want to present to you this certificate of recognition.”

In his remarks, the leader of the Foropa Clan Central delegation, Chief Baghebo, a Professor of Development Economics, Niger Delta University, and the Ebe-Disewei 1 of Foropa Central Clan, said Furopa was pulled out of Bassan Clan because of the size, adding that Furopa has grown so big with many sub communities emerging which qualified the kingdom to be a clan.

In their separate remarks, the other members of the delegation Chief Theodore Allison, a Professor of Histology and Ebe-ebidouwei of Foropa Clan Central and Chief Azawei Alamene , a Professor of Plant Pathology and Ebe Dirinimiemi 1 of Foropa Clan Central, described Foropa Community as one of the aboriginal tribes of Ijaw nation , stressing that clanship recognition was long overdue.

“Foropa Clan Central is one of the newest clans, in fact it is long overdue because we are one of the aboriginal tribes in Ijaw nation. Infact we are balkanized into three states, Bayelsa, Edo and Ondo states. It is a triple victory for us because all the Foropa Clans in Bayelsa, Edo and Ondo states were given clanship recognition,” Chief Allison said.