Info-Warri Affairs

Sapele Was Never an Okpe Community – Uduaghan

The Alema of Warri, Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, has asserted that all the demands of the Orodje in Council should be discountenanced as the said claims are unfounded in historical facts and law.

‘’The land where PPL 220 is situated belongs to Abigborodo Community’’

He also stated that Ajaji, Ugwo, Ajimele, Aji-Dore, Obotie and Irakpa are Itsekiri communities.

‘’The only existing communities known in Sapele from time immemorial are all Itsekiri communities. Sapele was never an Okpe Community. Rather it was Okpe people who came from Orerokpe to trade with the Itsekiris in Sapele Town. This position is further corroborated by the Intelligence Report of the colonial authority as far back as 1930 on the Ukpe Sobo Clan, wherein they listed all Okpe villages, sub-clans and communities. The notable Okpe villages listed in the Report of L. E. H Fellows on the Ukpe Sobo Clan were Amukpe, Elume, Oorerokpe and Gbukurusu which are all far away from Sapele’’

Uduaghan in a response to the protest by the Udogun Okpe (Orodje in Council) on the Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed Abigborodo Field in PPL 220 stated that the Udogun Okpe was never at any time during the colonial era in charge of the administration of the Ukpe Sobo Forest Reserve when the colonial authority wanted to create the said Forest Reserve.

‘’The Udogun Okpe in 1931 wrote to the said authority, clearly stating that they the Okpe people had no available land to form part of the constitution of the proposed Forest Reserve’’

Uduaghan while urging the public to visit www.abigborodocommunitydeltastate.ng for all the certified documents said at the time Ukpe Sobo Forest Reserve was to be constituted, the representative of the Olu of Warri vide a letter dated 11th of July, 1932 wrote the colonial masters informing them that the said land used in constituting the Okpe Sobo Forest Reserve belongs to the Itsekiri Nation and therefore asked the colonial authority to cancel the constitution of the Okpe Sobo Forest Reserve.

‘’Despite the letter by the representative of the Olu of Warri asking the colonial authority to cancel the constitution of the Ukpe Sobo Forest Reserve, the colonial authority went ahead to constitute same’’

The Warri High Chief said at the time Forest Reserve was constituted by the colonial authority, Abigborodo indigenes and their tenants were still farming inside the constituted Ukpe Sobo Forest Reserve, which resulted in the arrest of Abigborodo indigenes who were charged before the Magistrate Court at Sapele on the 27th day of March 1940 and presided by His Worship A. V. Scallon ESQ.

Related News
Abigborodo reaffirms claim to PPL 220, Ugbekoko, Uton Iyatsere
Abigborodo Oil Field naming confirmed by Alema of Warri
Edo government resolves community crisis to attract foreign investors
‘’ The Magistrate (Limited Powers) discharged and acquitted Abigborodo indigenes on the ground that Abigborodo Community are the owners of the said land and therefore had the right to farm on the said land’’

He disclosed that the then Head of Abigborodo, Alema Okonedo caused a letter/petition to be written to the Governor General against the inclusion of Abigborodo Community lands that traverse through Ugbekoko, Utonyatsere, Ogorode and hole in the creeks without the authority and consent of the Abigborodo Community.

‘’Consequent upon the petition written by Alema Okonedo, the colonial masters acknowledged the petition of Alema Okonedo and promised to look into the claims of Alema Okonedo’’

Uduaghan stated that upon the conclusion of investigation by the Conservator of Forest, Ubiaja Circle, who was directed by the Governor General to investigate the claims of Alema Okonedo, a Report was issued by the Governor General through the Office of the Secretary to the Government wherein the claims of Alema Okonedo were found to true and substantiated.

‘’It is my submission that when the claims of Alema Okonedo were found to be true and substantiated by the colonial authority, a sketch map was produced by the colonial authority showing the areas/land belonging to Abigborodo Community in the Ukpe Sobo Forest Reserve’’

As a follow up to the report by the colonial authority which found the claims of Alema Okonedo to be true and substantiated, Uduaghan said a memorandum was published by the colonial authority wherein the Ugbekoko areas belonging to Abigborodo community was recommended for de-reservation and excluded from the Ukpe Sobo Forest Reserve and be returned to the people of Abigborodo Community.

‘’As a follow up to the memorandum by the colonial authority, minutes of instruction from the Forest Department of Ubiaja to the conservator, South Central Circle, duly signed by C. A Walker, a proposal was made for the reconstitution of the Forest Reserve and how to carry out the excisions recommended in the memorandum’’

Sequel to the minute of instruction by the colonial authority, Uduaghan revealed that an order was made under the Forest Ordinance (CAP 75) known as the Western Forest Reserve, wherein Order 33 of 1933 was further revised and modified by revoking the first and second schedule thereto and substituted same with the Edict of 1952, wherein the size and boundaries of the excised and de-reserved land belonging to Abigborodo Community was clearly shown and described particularly.

‘’In 1996, the Delta State Government via its official Gazette further released additional 200 acres of land to the already existing enclave of Ugbekoko and Utonyatsere belonging to Abigborodo Community.

He called the Okpe people land grabbers.

‘’When land grabbers of Okpe extraction were encroaching on Abigborodo, Ugbekoko and Utonyatsere lands and selling them off to unsuspecting members of the public, as the defender and custodian of those lands belonging to Abigborodo Community under the over lordship of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 111, I caused a petition to be written to the Nigeria Police Force which investigated the said petition and found that there was probable cause that certain laws had been violated by some land grabbers of Okpe extraction and the police gave their findings vide a Police Investigation Report’’

He recalled how former Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa directed the Ministry of Lands, Delta State to investigate the claim of encroachment by the Okpe people on Abigborodo Community lands.

‘’The Ministry of Lands set up a three man committee which investigated Abigborodo Community claims and came out with a report substantiating the fact that Abigborodo Community Land of Ugbekoko and Utonyatsere were indeed encroached upon by Okpe Community’’

He said the judicial enquiry set up to look into the Ukpe Sobo Forest Reserve came up with a white paper further buttressing that Ugbekoko, Utonyatsere and all adjacent lands in the Ukpe Sobo Forest Reserve belong to Abigborodo Community.

‘’It is not stated anywhere in the Judicial Panel of Enquiry’s Report issued by the Delta State Government with regards to Ukpe Sobo Forest Reserve that Abigborodo Community is separated from the said Reserve by the natural boundary of Hole in the Creek (Benin River). Abigborodo Township is in Warri North Local Government.

However, Abigborodo Community land stretches and traverses into Sapele Local Government Area which has been substantiated by various documents from the colonial records’’

He emphasized the development effort of former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan.

‘’The claim of the Udogun Okpe of magnanimously allowing the Former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan to construct a bridge to link Abigborodo with Sapele is offensive and it shows that the Udogun Okpe is not conversant with the with the provisions of the Land Use Act’’

Uduaghan who is the administrator of Abigborodo, Ugbekoko and Utonyatsere, said in Suit No. 5/23/74 Washi Ogodo & Sapele Okpe Communal Land trustees & 2 ORS, the court held that there is nothing like Sapele Okpe Community Lands.

‘’The erroneous belief of the Udogun Okpe and by extension the Okpe people that because Abigborodo’s Community land and some Itsekiri land are in Sapele Local Government, Okpe Kingdom owns such land is huge fallacy. Local Government Areas are political creations of Government for administrative convenience and does not in any way confer ownership of the land under reference on Okpe people. Sapele is largely Itsekiri owned and this has been shown by various documents from colonial records available at the National Archives, Ibadan’’

He said the area serving as host to the Abigborodo Field in PPL 220 was commissioned by Chevron Nigeria Limited

‘’It was Chevon Nigeria Limited that named the said Abigborodo Field in PPL 220, having done their investigations and found out that Abigborodo Community are the true owners of the said land and consequently recognized Abigborodo Community as the host community’’

‘’Abigborodo Community is a peaceful community and is ready to make sure that the operations of Navante Exploration and Production Limited are seamless and without issues’’ he added.

Open Letter to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Executive Governor of Delta State

Your Excellency,

I am an Itsekiri son and activist writing on behalf of my people and in defence of our ancestral heritage.

Odion is an ancient Itsekiri community under the Olu of Warri Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State. It is 100% Itsekiri land. There has never been, and there will never be, any place called “Odion Urhobo”. The Urhobo people living in Odion are tenants and guests of the Itsekiri landowners – nothing more.

The late Comrade Jerry Akpowwowo Aduara, an Urhobo man from Okere Urhobo Kingdom, tragically lost his life during the recent invasion of our community by armed men. His own urhobo kinsmen brought guns and death to Odion; and opened fire on our people. In defending our lives, our homes, and our ancestral land, our youths had no choice but to repel the invasion. Tragically, Jerry became a victim of the very people who brought guns and violence to Odion. That sad chapter should have ended with his passing.

Yet, in the burial poster of the late Comrade Jerry Akpowwowo Aduara (an Urhobo man who tragically lost his life during the recent armed invasion of Odion by his own kinsmen), his family and the Okere Urhobo leadership have deliberately inserted the provocative and completely false name “Ogwan Odion Urhobo of Okere Urhobo Kingdom” as a stop-over point for his co**se on Thursday, 11th December 2025.

This is not a mistake. It is a calculated act of territorial provocation and an attempt to use a funeral procession to lay claim to Itsekiri land.

Your Excellency, as the Chief Security Officer of Delta State, I respectfully demand that you immediately:
Order the family of the deceased and the Okere Urhobo leadership to remove every reference to “Odion Urhobo” or “Ogwan Odion Urhobo” from the burial poster and all related materials.
Prohibit the bringing of the co**se into Odion community on 11th December 2025 or any other date under any guise whatsoever.
Ensure that the funeral procession does not cross into Odion territory.

Let the dead be buried with dignity, but let it be done on land that actually belongs to his people. Odion is Itsekiri land under the Warri Kingdom, and no amount of funeral posters will change that historical and legal fact.

To avoid double wahala for dead body, they must stay clear of Odion community completely.

I trust Your Excellency will act swiftly to prevent another unnecessary crisis.
Thank you.
Signed,

By Lord_of_Warri on 𝕏.
Itsekiri Activist and Historian.

2nd December 2025

Itsekiri Historical Front Extols Ogiame Atuwatse III on Fourth Coronation Anniversary

Warri, Delta State – August 9, 2025

The leadership and members of the Itsekiri Historical Front (IHF) have joyfully joined the people of Iwereland, and friends of the Warri Kingdom across the globe, in celebrating His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, on the auspicious occasion of his 4th Coronation Anniversary.

In an elaborate congratulatory statement, the IHF described the reign of Ogiame Atuwatse III as “a divine season of rebirth” for the Itsekiri nation — a reign harmonising the timeless wisdom of the ancestors with the bold aspirations of the present generation.

“Your Majesty, you have become the living embodiment of our people’s resilience, dignity, and noble destiny,” the statement began. “You ascend the throne not merely as a custodian of our heritage, but as a torchbearer illuminating the path toward a future where culture and progress walk hand in hand.”

The IHF lauded the monarch for steering the affairs of the kingdom with a rare blend of royal grace and modern vision. Under his watch, the Warri Kingdom has witnessed renewed unity, purposeful development, and a revival of Itsekiri cultural consciousness.

“Your reign calls to mind the age-old truth that a people anchored in the values of their fathers will stand unshaken amidst the storms of time,” the group said. “In your person, we see the bridge between our glorious past and our unfolding future; in your vision, we hear the heartbeat of Iwereland.”

The statement further likened the Olu’s reign to “the steady river that nourishes the land in silence, yet shapes the destiny of all who dwell within its reach.” The IHF commended His Majesty’s unwavering commitment to peace, education, youth empowerment, and the preservation of the kingdom’s identity in the face of modern challenges.

“As we mark this 4th year of your reign, we reaffirm our unwavering loyalty to the crown and offer our prayers that the Almighty will grant you strength of spirit, clarity of vision, and the blessing of a reign marked by justice, prosperity, and the enduring love of your people,” the IHF declared.

The goodwill message was signed by Comr. Lily-white O. Esigbone, Chairman of the Itsekiri Historical Front; Mr. Samuel Maku Silva, Secretary; Mr Oritseweyiologbara Kwame Woode, Researcher; and Mr. Oritsegbubemi Adrian Edema, President of the Itsekiri Historical Front – United Kingdom.

The statement concluded with a resounding royal salute:

“Long live the King! Long live the Warri Kingdom! Long live the spirit of Iwere!”

https://warrigist.com.ng/2025/08/09/a-reign-of-renaissance-ihf-honours-ogiame-atuwatse-iii-at-fourth-coronation-anniversary/

https://www.nigerdeltavanguard.com/four-years-of-grace-and-vision-ihf-felicitates-the-olu-of-warri/

https://observerreport.com.ng/2025/08/09/itsekiri-historical-front-extols-ogiame-atuwatse-iii-on-fourth-coronation-anniversary/

https://globalwhisper.com.ng/2025/08/09/itsekiri-historical-front-extols-ogiame-atuwatse-iii-on-fourth-coronation-anniversary/

https://rapidreporternews.com.ng/2025/08/09/itsekiri-historical-front-extols-ogiame-atuwatse-iii-on-fourth-coronation-anniversary/

A Reign of Renaissance: IHF Honours Ogiame Atuwatse III at Fourth Coronation Anniversary - Warri Gist A Reign of Renaissance: IHF Honours Ogiame Atuwatse III at Fourth Coronation Anniversary Warri, Delta State – August 9, 2025 The leadership and members of the Itsekiri Historical Front (IHF) have joyfully joined the people of Iwereland, and friends of the Warri Kingdom across the globe, in celebra...

IPAC Rejoinder To IJAWS: Setting the Record Straight on Warri’s Ownership
Title: “Truth Rooted in History: The Itsekiri Legacy of Warri”

Introduction: A Call for Clarity and Justice

The Itsekiri Public Affairs Committee IPAC, stand firm in the face of a recent open letter by the so-called Truth Advocates of Niger Delta, titled “Truth Is Not Tribal – Stop Delaying Justice in Warri.” This letter, dripping with distortions and inflammatory rhetoric, seeks to rewrite history, undermine legal precedents, and destabilize the peace of Warri Federal Constituency. We, representing the will of our people, respond not with emotion but with facts, not with threats but with truth, grounded in historical records, legal judgments, and the enduring legacy of our kingdom.
The Ijaw advocates’ claims are a tapestry of half-truths, selective citations, and outright fabrications, designed to mislead the public and pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into a delineation process that ignores Itsekiri rights. Their accusations of “colonial favoritism” and “royal propaganda” are baseless, contradicted by centuries of documented history and court rulings affirming Itsekiri ownership. Warri is not a contested land; it is Iwere, the heart of the Warri Kingdom, founded by Olu Ginuwa, a prince of Benin, in the 15th century. We reject the narrative that casts us as strangers or tenants in our ancestral homeland. This rejoinder corrects their falsehoods, restores historical accuracy, and reaffirms the Itsekiri’s unassailable claim to Warri.

Correcting the Historical Falsehoods

1. The Myth of Ijaw Aboriginal Ownership

The Ijaw advocates claim that their people are the “aboriginal owners” of Warri, predating the Itsekiri, and that Olu Ginuwa was a mere “Benin fugitive” given refuge. This is a gross distortion. Historical records, including colonial archives and scholarly works, confirm that the Warri Kingdom was established by Olu Ginuwa, a prince of Benin, who migrated to the Niger Delta in the late 15th century, founding Ode-Itsekiri as the capital. The Itsekiri, with Yoruba roots from Ijebu, Mahin, and Ile-Ife, integrated with local communities outside the geographical location they made up the three Warri Local Government areas today, forming a distinct ethnic identity under the Olu’s monarchy.

National Archives CSO 26/Vol. 6/08549 states that Ijaw and Urhobo chiefs signed as “landlords” in specific agreements, but these were limited to their respective territories, not Warri township or territories. The Itsekiri, under Chief Dore Numa, acted as representatives of the Olu, managing land leases for the broader Warri region, a role recognized by colonial authorities.

Prof. P.A. Talbot, “The Peoples of Southern Nigeria,” Vol. II (1926) notes the Itsekiri’s migration under Ginuwa but emphasizes their establishment of a centralized kingdom, distinct from scattered Ijaw settlements in what today makes up Bomadi Loval Government Area. The claim that Ijaws “allowed” Ginuwa to settle reverses the historical reality of Itsekiri sovereignty.

The Ijaw’s assertion that they predated the Itsekiri in Warri township is unsupported by evidence. Warri’s core, including Okere, Igbudu, Agbassa, Ugbori, Ekurede, Odion, Pessu and Ode-Itsekiri, has been Itsekiri territory for centuries, as affirmed by court rulings and colonial records.

2. The “Olu of Warri” Title Misrepresentation

The Ijaw letter claims the title “Olu of Warri” was a 1952 colonial creation to extend Itsekiri influence over non-Itsekiri lands, citing CO 554/120/5 (1952). This is a deliberate misreading. The title change from “Olu of Itsekiri” to “Olu of Warri” reflected the kingdom’s historical scope, encompassing Warri township and its environs, not a new claim. The resistance noted in the colonial file came from specific Ijaw and Urhobo communities disputing administrative boundaries, not the Itsekiri’s ancestral rights.

CO 554/120/5 (1952) records Ijaw and Urhobo objections but does not negate the Itsekiri’s historical presence or the Olu’s authority over Itsekiri lands. The file notes the title change as a clarification of existing jurisdiction, not an expansion.

Prof. Philip A. Igbafe, “Benin Under British Administration” (1979) confirms the Olu’s authority was rooted in Itsekiri-speaking areas, with Warri township as the kingdom’s heart, not a multi-ethnic freehold as claimed.

The Olu’s title reflects the Itsekiri’s cultural and historical reality, not a colonial fiction. The Ijaw’s attempt to frame it as an imposition ignores the monarchy’s pre-colonial roots, documented since the 15th century.

3. Misinterpretation of Court Rulings

The Ijaw letter cites Shell v. Tiebo VII (1996), Sillo v. Military Governor (1973), and Ojakovo v. Ajomiwe (1961) to claim Ijaw and Urhobo ownership over Warri lands. These cases are misapplied:

Shell v. Tiebo VII (1996) 4 NWLR (Pt. 445) 657 affirmed Ijaw right of specific community lands in Gbaramatu Kingdom, not Warri township or the broader Warri Federal Constituency. This is not a case of ownership of Warri land.

Chief E.E. Sillo & Ors v. Military Governor of Mid-Western State (1973) upheld Ijaw rights in Ogbe-Ijoh, a distinct community in Warri South-West, not Warri township. The court recognized Itsekiri as the owners of Ogbe Ijaw land.

Ojakovo v. Ajomiwe (1961) confirmed Urhobo possessory right of 210 acres in Okere, a specific area within Warri South, but did not negate Itsekiri overlordship in Warri township, as established in earlier cases like Ometa v. Chief Dore Numa (1926).

In contrast, Itsekiri ownership is supported by a robust legal record:

Ometa v. Chief Dore Numa (1926) 11 N.L.R. 18 (Privy Council) confirmed Itsekiri ownership of Agbassa land in Warri, rejecting claims by other groups.

Omagbemi v. Chief Dore Numa (1923) 5 N.L.R. 17 upheld Itsekiri ownership rights over Ogbe-Ijaw and Alder’s Town, affirming the Olu’s overlordship.

Chief Secretary to the Fed. of Nigeria v. Itsekiri Communal Lands Trustees (W/41/57, 1970) recognized Itsekiri ownership of Igbudu, Warri, under the Olu’s authority.

The Ijaw’s selective use of court rulings ignores this catena of judgments affirming Itsekiri rights, misrepresenting isolated decisions to claim broader ownership.

4. The Ginuwa Narrative

The claim that Ginuwa was a “fugitive” given refuge by Ijaws inverts history. Olu Ginuwa, a Benin prince, founded the Warri Kingdom with his followers, establishing Ode-Itsekiri as its capital. The Ijaw, while present in riverine outside Warri areas, were not found inside Warri Kingdom as at the time of Ginuwa migration. Colonial records and oral traditions confirm Ginuwa’s followers integrated with local Yoruba-related groups, forming the Itsekiri identity.

Prof. Obaro Ikime, “Groundwork of Nigerian History” (1980) distinguishes between the Itsekiri people, who predate the monarchy, and Ginuwa’s establishment of the kingdom, centered in Warri township.

CO 554/124/3 (1938) clarifies Itsekiri claims in Ijaw areas like Ogbe-Ijoh and affirms their customary rights in Warri township.

The Ijaw’s narrative of hosting Ginuwa is a fabrication, unsupported by primary sources or archaeological evidence.

The INEC Delineation Process: A Call for Fairness

The Ijaw letter accuses INEC of delaying the ward delineation ordered by Timinimi v. INEC (SC/CV/1033/2023) due to Itsekiri pressure. This is a distortion. The Itsekiri have not opposed delineation but demand a process that respects historical and legal realities. The Ijaw’s claim of demographic dominance is exaggerated, relying on manipulated data and ignoring Itsekiri settlements.

INEC Ward Assessment Survey (2022) is cited by the Ijaw, but its findings are contested. Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, in a 2024 Vanguard publication, noted that INEC’s data collection was incomplete, failing to account for Itsekiri communities like Ugborodo and Omadino, which host significant populations.

Sunny Amorighoye, Channels Television (2025) highlighted the balanced ward structure in Warri North and South-West (six Itsekiri wards, four Ijaw wards), which the Ijaw’s proposed delineation threatens to disrupt, favoring their communities disproportionately.

The Itsekiri demand equity, not dominance. Warri Federal Constituency—comprising Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North. The Ijaw’s push for delineation based on alleged population superiority ignores Itsekiri ancestral rights, as affirmed in Ometa v. Chief Dore Numa (1926) and other cases.

Addressing the Accusations Against Itsekiri Elites

The Ijaw letter names Mrs. Daisy Danjuma and Senator Oluremi Tinubu as “shadowy influencers” pressuring INEC. This is baseless slander. No evidence links these women to INEC’s actions, and their inclusion is a tactic to inflame tensions. The Itsekiri rely on legal and historical arguments, not political lobbying. The Premium Times (March 3, 2024) report cited by the Ijaw lacks specifics, relying on unverified “whispers” in political circles, which do not constitute evidence.

The Itsekiri elite, including Chief Edward Ekpoko, have engaged INEC through lawful memoranda, as at the 2025 South-South Zonal Hearing, demanding a Warri State to protect Itsekiri rights, not to obstruct delineation. Their advocacy is transparent, unlike the Ijaw’s accusations of “gunrunning” and “militias,” which lack proof and echo past inflammatory rhetoric that fueled the 1997 and 2003 Warri crises.

The OPC’s Role: A Mischaracterized Ally

The Ijaw letter vilifies the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) as “saboteurs” with no stake in Warri. The OPC’s 2025 statement, reported by Tribune Online, expressed concern over INEC’s delineation, citing irregularities like renaming Itsekiri communities and favoring Ijaw wards. This aligns with Itsekiri grievances, rooted in shared Yoruba heritage, not external interference. The OPC’s call for adherence to court judgments, like Ometa v. Chief Dore Numa, is a defense of legal precedent, not a threat. The Ijaw’s warning of “consequences” is reckless, risking the peace maintained since the 1997 peace talks.

The Itsekiri Counter-Case: Warri as Iwere

Warri is the heart of the Warri Kingdom, Iwere, established by Olu Ginuwa in the 15th century. Its core—Warri township, Ode-Itsekiri, Okere—has been Itsekiri territory for centuries, as affirmed by:
Legal Precedents: Cases like Ometa v. Chief Dore Numa (1926), Omagbemi v. Chief Dore Numa (1923), and Chief Secretary v. Itsekiri Communal Lands Trustees (1970) confirm Itsekiri ownership under the Olu’s overlordship.

Colonial Records: CO 554/124/3 (1938) distinguishes Itsekiri rights in Warri township from Ijaw claims in peripheral creeks, affirming the Olu’s authority.

Historical Scholarship: Prof. Obaro Ikime and others document the Itsekiri’s pre-colonial presence, with Warri as their political and cultural center.

The Ijaw’s claim to Warri township, as voiced by Victor Okumagba in 2024, ignores these records, falsely asserting no Itsekiri ancestral roots in the area. The Itsekiri acknowledge Ijaw and Urhobo presence in Warri South-West and South, but their claim to Warri township as “aboriginal” is unsupported. The Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Chiefs Edict (1998) recognizes the Olu as the paramount ruler of Itsekiri lands, not a multi-ethnic Warri, but this does not negate Ijaw or Urhobo rights in their respective territories.

Our Demands: Equity and Truth

The Itsekiri people demand:

Fair Delineation: INEC must adhere to the Supreme Court’s order in Timinimi v. INEC (SC/CV/1033/2023), ensuring wards reflect historical and legal realities, not manipulated population claims
Respect for Precedents: Court rulings like Ometa v. Chief Dore Numa (1926) and Omagbemi v. Chief Dore Numa (1923) must guide delineation, affirming Itsekiri ownership of Warri township.
End to Inflammatory Rhetoric: The Ijaw’s threats of “consequences” and “war” must cease, as they risk repeating the 1997 and 2003 crises.
Protection of Itsekiri Rights: The Olu’s authority over Itsekiri lands must be respected, as per colonial and legal records, without prejudice to Ijaw or Urhobo rights in their territories.
Transparent Process: INEC must publish its methodology and data, addressing Itsekiri concerns about incomplete surveys and renamed communities.

Conclusion: The River’s Truth

Warri is Iwere, the heart of the Warri Kingdom, not a contested freehold. The Ijaw’s letter, with its distortions and threats, seeks to erase centuries of Itsekiri history, from Olu Ginuwa’s founding to Ogiame Dom Domingo’s legacy. We reject their narrative of “tenancy” and “colonial favoritism” as baseless, countered by legal, historical, and cultural evidence. The Itsekiri are not strangers in Warri; we are its roots, its river, its soul.
We call on INEC to uphold justice, guided by court precedents and equitable data, not pressure or propaganda. We urge the Ijaw to embrace dialogue, not division, as Warri’s strength lies in its shared heritage. The river flows for all, but its heart beats Itsekiri. Let truth prevail, not tribalism, and let Warri stand united under the law.

Signed:

Cc:
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Chief Justice of Nigeria
National Security Adviser
Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS)
Attorney General of the Federation
Delta State Governor
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
Stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency

https://warrigist.com.ng/2025/08/04/ipac-rejoinder-to-ogbe-ijoh-setting-the-record-straight-on-warris-ownershiptitle-truth-rooted-in-history-the-itsekiri-legacy-of-warri/

https://www.nigerdeltavanguard.com/ipac-rejoinder-to-ogbe-ijoh-setting-the-record-straight-on-warris-ownership-title-truth-rooted-in-history-the-itsekiri-legacy-of-warri/

https://globalwhisper.com.ng/2025/08/04/ipac-rejoinder-to-ogbe-ijoh-setting-the-record-straight-on-warris-ownershiptitle-truth-rooted-in-history-the-itsekiri-legacy-of-warri/

https://observerreport.com.ng/2025/08/04/ipac-rejoinder-to-ogbe-ijoh-setting-the-record-straight-on-warris-ownershiptitle-truth-rooted-in-history-the-itsekiri-legacy-of-warri/

https://rapidreporternews.com.ng/2025/08/04/setting-the-record-straight-on-warris-ownershiptitle-truth-rooted-in-history-the-itsekiri-legacy-of-warri/

RE: Chief Joe Omene’s Statement on the Surveillance Contract and the Status of the Itsekiri in Delta CentralClarification and Reaffirmation of Itsekiri Indigenous Presence in Delta Central
Kofi ParteyKofi Partey African News , Economy , Global News , Health July 28, 2025 0 Comments

RE: Chief Joe Omene’s Statement on the Surveillance Contract and the Status of the Itsekiri in Delta Central
Clarification and Reaffirmation of Itsekiri Indigenous Presence in Delta Central

In a recent interview on Rero TV, Chief Joe Omene, former President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), questioned the decision to award a surveillance contract to Chief Johnson Amatserunleghe, the Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom. Chief Omene argued that such an appointment was inappropriate because, according to him, the Itsekiri have no indigenous claim to Mosogar.

This assertion is factually incorrect and misleading. The Itsekiri people are not only aboriginal to Warri but are also historically indigenous to several communities in Delta Central. In fact, the Itsekiris have a significant ancestral and demographic presence across Delta Central, contributing over 40% of the senatorial district’s identity. It is, therefore, erroneous to suggest that Chief Johnson Amatserunleghe, a prominent Itsekiri leader and son of Igun community, lacks rightful claim to serve in such a capacity.

It is important to point out that on 2nd June 2025, the UPU initially submitted a petition alleging marginalization by Tantita Security Services. However, just two days later, the UPU withdrew the petition through another public statement. This reversal is a clear indication that the traditional rulers and the leadership of the UPU recognize and accept the legitimacy of Chief Johnson Amatserunleghe’s role as coordinator for the Mosogar axis of the surveillance contract.

We must discourage divisive rhetoric and tribal agitation that threatens the peaceful coexistence of indigenous peoples of Delta Central. Chief Omene’s recent comments verge on ethnic bigotry and are capable of provoking unnecessary tension between the Itsekiris and the Urhobos who have cohabited peacefully for centuries.

The Olu of Warri Kingdom remains the spiritual and traditional overlord of several indigenous Itsekiri communities situated within Delta Central. Below are some of these communities under the suzerainty of the Olu of Warri:

ITSEKIRI COMMUNITIES IN DELTA CENTRAL

Sapele Local Government Area (LGA):

Ugbosien
Ugbekoko
Obontie
Aja-Ojigwo
Ogun Aja Ugbegi
Ajimele
Arowun
Enaso
Adaka
Uton-Iyatsere
Uvwie LGA:

Ugbolokposo
Okpe LGA:

Aja-Ogunoyibo
Ajatiton
Aja-Ogolo
Udu LGA:

Egbogide
Ethiope West LGA:

Efurokpe
Oyeaja
Ekwobodo
Ibirifo
Efo
Enasun
Aja Futughe
Aja Uduaghan
Obiteupagha
Ifole
Ewuse
Ajatiton (Mosogar)
Aja Enesan (Jesse)
Gbomoya (Jesse)
Ethiope East LGA:

Aja-Igun
Otumara
Aja-Irigbo
Given this historical and cultural context, Chief Johnson Amatserunleghe is not only qualified but legitimately entitled to any responsibility or benefit accruing to indigenes of Delta Central, whether as an Itsekiri, a son of Igun, or the Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom.

We therefore appeal to Chief Joe Omene to tread the path of peace, desist from ethnic instigation, and respect the long-standing indigenous identity and rights of the Itsekiri people within Delta Central. It is in unity that we can build a secure and prosperous region for all ethnic groups.

Signed:
Comrade Thompson Stephen Amejuma
Itsekiri Youths Leader Delta Central