Warri : Chief Ariyo, Barr. Awani engage in battle of wits

The seeming ideological difference between Warri Chief, Barr. Robinson Ariyo and businessman cum legal practitioner, Barr. Esimaje Awani, appears to have taken a new dimension, with both parties expressing divergent views as it relates to the Itsekiri - Ijaw relationship, particularly the Ijaws of Gbaramatu, led by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo ( aka Tompolo).

Whilst Chief Robinson Ariyo, opined that the Ijaws, secretly instituted cases to alter aspects of Itsekiri land ownership rights in Warri Federal Constituency, Barr. Awani, declared that Chief Ariyo's position, does not represent the collective interest or mindset of the Itsekiri people.

Chief Robinson Ariyo, stated in a social media post: " MY RESPONSE TO ESIMAJE AWANI ON SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN WARRI KINGDOM 

They claim to have sustained a peace project with the Ijaws in the face of the developments we shall currently highlight. 

The secret institution of the following cases by the Ijaws, allegedly empowered by funds obtained through unintended government contacts and patronage:

1.The INEC -Supreme Court case secretly instituted and prosecuted behind our backs, from the trial court all the way to the Supreme Court.

2. The case instituted to stop elections in the three Warri Local Government Areas, which we were fortunate to discover in time. We joined the suit and eventually obtained judgment against the Ijaws as part of the alleged unsuccessful litigation.

3.The case involving the Ama Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh, who claimed that his jurisdiction extended beyond Warri South-West to Warri South. This case was also secretly instituted by the Ijaws. We discovered it, joined the proceedings, and obtained judgments against them at both the trial and appellate courts.

4. The case secretly instituted by the Ijaws to set aside the election of the only member we have in the National Assembly. Once again, it was secretly filed by the Ijaws, and through our efforts we joined the case and are contesting it, even though we have our reservations about the Honourable Member.

As we speak, there are more than ten pending cases secretly filed by the Ijaws, all seeking to alter one aspect or another of our existing land ownership rights.

In all these cases, we appear as Defendants, not as Claimants.

CONCLUSION:

Those who claim to be friends and business partners with the Ijaws, in the name of Itsekiri unity, need to explain to us what they mean by “peace,” and how defending our land and our people has suddenly become synonymous with troublemaking.

Let us not prioritize immediate gains over the destinies of generations to come.

Let us remember Edmund Burke when he admonished us thus: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Barr. Awani, in a statement made available to Fresh Angle International Friday January 2, noted : " RESPONSE TO ARIYO’s FABRICATED AND UNREALISTIC TALE! 

As an Itsekiri man, I must clearly state that Chief Barrister Robinson Ariyo’s position on the Facebook page of IWERE NATION SECURITY does not represent the collective interest or mindset of the Itsekiri people.

While he is an Itsekiri chief by title, his recent statement appears driven more by overzealousness and a long-standing inclination toward unending litigation as a means of relevance and survival, rather than by a genuine concern for peace in the Niger Delta. This approach is not only unhelpful but dangerous in a region that has worked hard to emerge from decades of conflict.

It is also obvious that his comments were indirectly targeted at certain Individuals of the Ijaw ethnic group. This is deeply troubling because, in recent times, the Ijaws of Gbaramatu and their Itsekiri neighbors have enjoyed relative peace, cooperation, and improved coexistence. Any narrative that seeks to reignite suspicion or ethnic tension between us is irresponsible and contrary to the lived reality on the ground.

Furthermore, the attack on TANTITA Security Services Nigeria Limited ignores the human cost of such rhetoric. Over 1,500 Itsekiri beneficiaries depend directly on TANTITA for their livelihoods. Undermining the company or calling for the termination of its contract without concrete evidence of wrongdoing risks throwing innocent families into hardship and destabilizing an already fragile economic balance in the region. 

In the past, there were rumors alleging that TANTITA was invading Itsekiri communities. I am therefore surprised by the source of this recent agitation, as it does not reflect the current reality on the ground. As the General Coordinator of the Itsekiri cluster for TANTITA, I have made deliberate and measurable progress in ensuring that all facilities within Itsekiri areas are manned by Itsekiri indigenes, who also take the lead in responding to emergencies within our communities.

Peace in the Niger Delta cannot be sustained through selective accusations, ethnic dog-whistling, or personal legal crusades. It is sustained through collaboration, accountability, and inclusive economic opportunities that cut across ethnic lines. This is exactly what recent arrangements have helped to promote.

As a traditional chief and minister in the temple justice, such individual ought to be a champion of peace, not instruments of renewed division. Any claim to speak for the Itsekiri people must reflect wisdom, restraint, and a genuine commitment to harmony with our neighbors not actions that threaten the progress we have collectively made. 

At this juncture, it will be safe to say that Ariyo’s actions can be described as a year 2026 hustling agenda far from freedom fighting and one with a long history of unproductive and endless legal initiatives."

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