Itsekiri Youths block Delta Government House, demand reversal of ceding of Warri North Chairmanship position to Ijaw

For over three hours today, Tuesday January 12, several Itsekiri youths across Warri North, Warri South, Warri South-West and Ethiope West in Delta State as well as Benin in Edo State and Lagos, blocked the entrance of Delta State Government House, Asaba, chanting: “Ijaw doesn't have justification to be Chairman of Warri North Local Government Area".

They demanded to see Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, so as to present their protest letter to him.

The angry nerves of the protesting youths was assuaged when Senior Political Adviser to Governor Okowa, Chief Funkekeme Solomon, commended them for being peaceful, assuring that their grievance would be communicated to the governor with a view to resolving it.

Comrade James Aderojor, presenting the protest letter of Itsekiri youths to Chief Funkekeme Solomon (right) at the front of Government House, Asaba

Chief Funkekeme Solomon, described Governor Okowa as a man of peace, “who believes in fairness and equity across all ethnic groups in the state”.

Fresh Angle International can authoritatively report that the protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions such as: "We will never recognize any ceding of Warri North Chairmanship Candidate to any Ijaw’, "Warri North, stop the trading of Itsekiri", Itsekiri leaders, the youth can't breathe", ‘Itsekiri say no to ceding of Warri North," "4 can't be greater than 6", “#End Itsekiri bad leaders#”,  "when will INYC Speak Out", Warri North not for sale” and "President Agbas defend Itsekiri", alleged that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other PDP leaders from Warri North were masterminding the political tension in the area, urging them to correct the perceived wrongs, before it will be too late.

Our Senior Correspondent, who was in Asaba, reports that the angry youths vowed to use legal means to stop the ceding of Warri North Chairmanship position to Egbema Ijaw, insisting that all interested aspirants should be allowed to purchase forms and be screened.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Comrade Mone Oris, stated that 25 stakeholders of PDP in Warri North were to select candidate through primaries, only for “two people from Warri North Local Government Area to arm-twist the process from their homes and choose a candidate to be Chairman of the Local Government Area, without consulting others in the LGA”.

According to Comrade Mone, in normal democracy, two persons can't take decision for 25 persons, saying they want immediate reversal of the ceding of the chairmanship position of Warri North Local Government to Ijaw.

He called for PDP primary to be conducted by the 25 stakeholders in order to select the rightful candidate as well as allowing a level playing ground for all to participate.

President, Movement for the Protection of Iwere Homeland, Development and History, MPIHDH, Comrade James Aderojor, stressed that Warri North Chairmanship can't be ceded to non-Itsekiri, adding that if reversal isn't done, political peace will not be enjoyed in the area.

Comrade Aderojor, cautioned those allegedly trading the Warri North Chairmanship to desist from such, “failed political calculation”, stating that, "Ogheye Ward alone is more than the four Egbema Ijaw Wards in the local government area in terms of population".

Photo-grid of various scenes of the protest

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