01/09/2026
Bayelsa: A Multi-Ethnic State.
Bayelsa State is often described simply as an “Ijaw state,” but its ethnic composition is more diverse.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan is Ogbia, not Ijaw. The state is home to several distinct indigenous groups, including the Ijaw, Ogbia, Epie/Atissa, Urhobo and Igbo communities, with differences in language, culture and history.
The Ogbia have their own language and identity, just as the Epie/Atissa have distinct linguistic and cultural roots. This makes Bayelsa a heterogeneous, multi-ethnic state, rather than an exclusively Ijaw state.
Recognizing these distinctions is essential to understanding the complex history and identity of the Niger Delta.