Respecting Heritage; Enough is Enough: Itsekiri Community Responds to Ijaw Claims in Warri

 

In response to recent publications by the IYC Ogbe-Ijoh, representatives of the Itsekiri community have expressed concerns about historical inaccuracies and disrespect towards the Olu of Warri throne. They assert that the Ijaw people's claims to land ownership in Warri have been legally settled and that continued provocations will not be tolerated. Highlighting legal cases that affirm Itsekiri ownership, they urge authorities to address lawlessness and land-grabbing tendencies among Ijaw youth groups. Read on for a detailed examination of the issues at hand and the Itsekiri community's stance on the matter.

"Our attention has been drawn to a publication made by a group known as IYC Ogbe-Ijoh in response to the world press conference held by the sole representative of the Olu of Warri Palace and Liaison to the NNPC on April 16, 2024.

It's obvious that Comrade Omare Moses, Chairman of IYC Ogbe-Ijoh, and Comrade Donye T. Vincent, Secretary of IYC Ogbe-Ijoh, lack basic knowledge of history. The status of the Ijaws in Warri has long been settled as tenants to the Itsekiri people who own all lands in the three Warri local governments. But due to their lawlessness, they forget their origin, which is obviously from the current-day Bayelsa state. The Ijaws always pride themselves on their violent nature and total disregard for law and order, but little did they know that the Itsekiris of this generation will no longer accept this madness. It will be resisted with every strength left in us. The said area of land from NPA old port to Main Market belongs to Itsekiri; Ijaws do not have any land there.

We hereby call on His Excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, the Governor of Delta State, to caution the Ijaw people of Ogbe-Ijaw for their continuous disrespect to the Warri throne. Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR is the Olu of Warri and not Olu of Itsekiri. There is no title as the Olu of Itsekiri, and no amount of false publication can give the Ogbe-Ijaw people what they lost in court. The Olu of Warri Kingdom is located in the three Warri Local Governments, and the Ogbe-Ijaw people are tenants to the Itsekiri people in Warri South West Local Government. If this insult continues, the Ijaw people will have a battle on their hands from both ends; Warri city will be heated more than the Warri crisis.

The general public should disregard the said publication; the Ogbe-Ijaw people own no land in Warri South Local Government. The land Ogbe-Ijaw is currently residing on in Warri South West is a major cause of the crisis between Ogbe-Ijaw and Aladja. The said land was given to the Ogbe-Ijaw people by the Olu of Warri. Today, the Ogbe-Ijaw people are claiming ownership of the said land in Ogbe-Sobo.

This publication has the handwriting of the Idimi-Sobo people who have always raised false claims that the Ijaw people own the whole GRA in Warri. This false narrative is to incite the Itsekiris and the Ijaws into another round of crisis, and we, the Itsekiri people, are equal to the task. This is no longer business as usual; we will no longer tolerate any insult in our ancestral home for peace's sake. A war with the Itsekiri is an obvious close down of the only gateway into Ogbe-Ijaw, as the Ijaw people can no longer pass through the Aladja area because of the same land-grabbing attitude. The Ijaw people have no land in Warri South.

A case of considerable importance was the action in Suit No. W/148/56 taken by Chief Isuokumo Oloiki and others (for themselves and on behalf of Ijaw settlers in Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri Division) against Itsekiri Communal Land Trustees & Anor.

In the action, the Ijaws, not without the prompting of the Urhobos, claimed a declaration of title to most of Warri Division, including Warri township. After much legal argument and seeing the futility of their actions, the plaintiffs, that is, the Ijaws, eventually decided to discontinue the Suit, and Rhodes Vivour J. delivered a judgment part of which reads as follows:

“On the 9/7/64, this Court delivered its ruling refusing the plaintiffs’ application to discontinue after the trial date had been fixed to the knowledge of the parties. The plaintiffs have now asked for leave to discontinue under Order 28 Rule 2 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules Cap.44 Laws of Western Nigeria 1959. The Plaintiffs are hereby precluded from bringing any further actions or action against any or either of the 1st and 2nd defendants in respect of the claims of which specific particulars were given in the Writ of Summons, Statement of Claim, and amended statement of claim in this action. Leave is accordingly granted the plaintiffs to discontinue this action.”

As the Ijaw people were aggrieved by this order which forever barred them from reopening this case against the Itsekiri Communal Land Trustees, they appealed to the Supreme Court, which on April 24, 1967, with Sir Lionel Brett Ag, C.J. presiding, summarily dismissed the appeal in Suit No. SC/450/65. So, the Ijaws of Ogbe-Ijoh should never be heard to say anything about ownership of Ogbe-Ijoh lands or any lands in Warri Divisions again.

With the above case, the Ogbe-Ijaw people in their lawless ways still went further to start a case, the case with suit no: W/147/2020, HRM Amaokosu Mobene Vs The Executive Governor Delta State & 5 Ors. This was a case that was commenced in 2020 as the Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh claiming to be entitled to royalties in Warri South Local Government. The Itsekiri preliminary objections of the case were upheld, and the entire case was struck out.

We want to conclude by appealing to the state government, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, the Executive Governor of the state, the Nigerian Army, and the Inspector General of Police to look into the current activities of the Ijaw youth group because they are synonymous with lawlessness. If at this time the Ijaws will still be disobeying court judgments and orders, we advise them to stop all these lawless acts and land-grabbing character because it will not be business as usual.

Signed:

Comrade Mone Oris, Chairman, Itsekiri Youth For Good Governance (IYGG)

Comrade Lillywhite Esebone, PRO, Itsekiri Youth For Good Governance (IYGG)"