Delta Government recants in backdated circular as Itsekiri youths, warn, ‘We will never tolerate assault on our Traditional Institution’

Delta State Government, have swiftly recanted by releasing what looks like a backdated circular, correcting an initial notice of the reconstitution of the Delta State Traditional Rulers’ Council, which initially excluded the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, from the Traditional Councils in  Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas and did the needful, listing the Olu of Warri as the prominent Monarch in Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas, just as Itsekiri youth groups, including, Itsekiri Liberation Group, this morning, Wednesday January 26, protested the earlier restriction of the Olu of Warri to only Warri South Local Government Area.

Video Clip of Mr. Gbubemi Awala, speaking

In the backdated circular dated Tuesday January 25 and released at about midday today, Wednesday January 26 on social media platforms, Office of the Secretary to Delta State Government, listed His Imperial Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, The Olu of Warri, The Ovie of Agbarha– Warri, London Aforkerhi Orhifi, Ememoh II and The Orosuen of Okere-Urhobo, Warri, Sir Emmanuel Onobrayekpeye Okumagba as the Monarchs in Warri South Local Government Area, His Imperial Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, The Olu of Warri, The Amakosu of Ogbe-Ijoh, Couple Mackson Oromoni and The Pere of Gbaramatu, William Naira .S. Ogoba, Oboro Gbaraun II as the Monarchs in Warri South-West Local Government Area, while the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, was announced as sole king in Warri North.

Photo-Grid of The First and Fourth pages of the seemingly reworked circular

Fresh Angle International can report that listing of the Olu of Warri as the prime Traditional Ruler in the three Warri Local Government Areas, in the circular signed by Secretary to Delta State Government, Patrick Ukah, which was surprisingly dated Tuesday January 25 at about same time the Itsekiri youths were protesting at Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri, was a sharp departure from the announcement by the State Government, which circulated in various social media platforms yesterday night (Tuesday January 25) restricting the Olu of Warri to just Warri South Local Government Area.

The seemingly reworked circular, announcing the reconstitution of Delta State Traditional Rulers’ Council, which confirmed His Royal Majesty, Major-Gen Felix Mujakperuo (Rtd.) Orhue 1, CFR, The Orodje of Okpe as the State Chairman, The Pere of Akugbene-Mein, Kalamana VIII, HRM Pere Stanley .P. Luke, as 1^st Vice Chairman and The Obi of Ubulu-Unor, HRM Agbogidi, Obi Henry .A. Kikachukwu as 2nd Vice Chairman, may have doused tension among the aggrieved Itsekiris in Delta State, but the non-listing of Egbema Monarch in Warri North Local Government Area, could trigger fresh round of protests.

Our Roving Correspondent, who covered the protest by the Itsekiri Youths from different groups at the gate of Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri, earlier today, Wednesday January 26, reports that members of the group, vowed they will never tolerate any assault on their Traditional Institution (throne of the Olu of Warri). 

Your Credible Warri Based Online Newspaper with Global Reputation, can authoritatively report that the youths, who initially converged at the NPA Expressway by Ugbuwangue, Warri, before proceeding to Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri, carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North, belongs to the Olu of Warri”, “Stop Undermining the Itsekiris”, “Olu of Warri is the overlordship of the three Warris”, “The Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro, is trying to breach the Peace in Warri”, “Ogiame leads, Itsekiris follow”, “Okowa Hates Itsekiri”, “Say No to Itsekiri Political Dealers Negotiating with our Heritage# Okowa hates Itsekiri#”, “Where Okowa goes, we go no more” and “Olu of Warri is a First Class Monarch”.

Chairman of Itsekiri Interest Group, Mr. Gbubemi Awala, in an exclusive interview with This Newspaper, declared: "We stand against the recent publication of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, where a list was released, but The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, who controls Warri South, Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas, was not seen". 

Mr. Awala further stressed that Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, should make the necessary correction, by including The Olu of Warri, adding: "We don't want any breach of peace". 

Mr. Gbubemi Awala

Whilst demanding that The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, should be included in the areas he controls, because Itsekiris are in Uvwie, Sapele and Okpe Local Government Areas of Delta State, one of the protesters, Mr. Yalaju Oritseweyinmi, alleged that Delta State Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, who presides over Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, "is always biased with anything that concerns Itsekiri people". 

Mr. Oritseweyinmi, noted: "We will never tolerate any assault on our Traditional Institution, we are sending a strong warning to Delta State Government, because you (Delta State Government) cannot relegate what you did not create and that is our stand on this issue". 

A Cross Section of some members of IIG, during the protest

Another Protester, Prince Emiko Abalagbeyi, explained: "From time immemorial, Warri Kingdom, has been in existence before the Nation, Nigeria and the tittle of Olu of Warri Kingdom, has been in existence for over 500yrs.

"It is hilarious when you see the Deputy Governor, who is heading Chieftaincy Affairs to relegate the title of Olu of Warri Kingdom to Warri South Local Government."

A reaction on the development in the social media, which was credited to foremost Warri Based Legal Practitioner, Social Commentator and Chief of Warri Kingdom, Barr. Robinson Ariyo, stated thus: “UNDERSTATING THE ISSUES;

“The Deputy Governor came into office with a very defined agenda of getting the Amakosu of Ogbe-Ijoh to be listed among the recognized traditional Rulers in Warri South Local Government Area.

“Step 1:  Sometime in 2019 he sponsored a suit against Warri South Local Government Area in which we raised a preliminary objection about the competence of the processes and in reaction, the suit was withdrawn.

“Step 2: He then quietly instituted the same suit but now leaving out Warri South Local Government Area but including the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs a ministry under his office and control as a willing Defendant. 

“To ensure that the public was not aware, an application was brought to hear the matter as a mediation matter in the closed court. 

“We were once again fortunate when the information leaked and we were quickly able to seek to join the suit but the mediator refused us so we filed an action in Warri questioning why suit an issue will be on trial and we are not joined as parties vide a process known as judicial review. We succeeded and the matter was eventually transferred to Warri and we were joined. That was the matter that came up a few days ago in Warri and which I have already reported on. 

In that matter the Ijaws were bitter that they also should like Ogiame, benefit from Royalties from the three LGA otherwise, Baba should be restricted to one LGA.

“Apparently, since they could not achieve that, they have come up with this Executive Memo from the Office of the SSG obviously the subject matter being that within the domain of the Deputy Governor would bear his hand writing.

“The Governor may very well be oblivious of the details. 

Way Forward: “We don’t need to panic because there is really from a legal perspective nothing to panic about but to use our brain and energy to react.

“Bear in mind that the Law that places Ogiame in the three LGAs and lists him as number 1 is still subsisting and has not been amended. Where there is a conflict between a law and a memo, the law will prevail. That is simple enough. 

“What we need to do is lodge a Petition with the Governor, highlighting this attempt to ignite violence by seeking to amend a law with a memo. Reach the Governor vide diplomatic moves to note the aberration. Prepare other legal remedies not to be disclosed now. 

“This is no time or panic, but for collaborative working”. 

Vociferous socio-political Itsekiri organization, Itsekiri Liberation Group, ILG in a petition addressed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, regarding the controversy and sent to This Medium this afternoon, enjoined the governor to, “call a press briefing to tell Itsekiris in Warri North LGA, Warri South West LGA, who their royal father is or if you have created a different one for them (after-all, these days, traditional rulers and titles are ten a penny in Delta State!”

The petition, which was E-signed by the Chairman and Secretary, respectively of ILG, Comrades Mone Oris and Ajofortan Omagbemi, stated: “DEMAND FOR WITHDRAWAL AND SWIFT RECTIFICATION OF A MISLEADING CIRCULAR ON THE RECONSTITUTION OF DELTA STATE'S COUNCIL OF TRADITIONAL RULERS TO AVOID BREAKDOWN OF LAW, PEACE AND ORDER

“Our attention has been drawn to a recent circular purportedly issued by and emanating from the office of the Secretary to the Delta State government dated January 25, 2022.

“Upon perusal of the circular, we find an anti-Itsekiri nation narrative laden with misinformation, malice and done male fide.

“The heavily jaundiced circular was to the subject of the reconstitution of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers but in a manner that is totally strange and a total deviation from extant list and nomenclature.

“Although we understand the politics being played by the government, especially the Deputy Governor and his cohorts in other to further ridicule us (Itsekiri) and completely disenfranchise us from our land and pristine and unequal crown in the constituent space called Delta within the geographical entity called Nigeria. 

“Prior to this malicious circular, Your Excellency, it is an established fact, which you ought to know in your capacity as the first citizen of the State, that those territories known and identified in the Nigerian Constitution as Warri South, Warri North and Warri South West Local Governments respectively have always been captured under the overlordship of the Olu of Warri, predating your two terms of administration.

“Nevertheless and very curiously, we find it very strange, provocative, lawless, unreasonable and utterly malicious to see that this is not the case in your recent circular under your administration, as obviously some people in your government with sinister mission are hell bent to remove the ancient landmarks and score cheap but poisonous political points in anticipation of their agenda in 2023. Without sounding immodest, this will fail and fall flat in the eyes of equity and good conscience.

“We have equally noticed with keen interest that you seem easily swayed by  anyone with violent attitude and you accord huge value to same. It is obvious that you have given credence and recognition to those with the ability to foment violence. You have rebuffed those who have chosen the true path of peace because of your political ambition by using your exalted position to bend truth. Please rest assured that history will certainly archive this injustice amongst a legion others against Itsekiri, against your name in no distant time.

“Let it be on record that we reject this false and gapingly misleading circular by your appointee in the person of the Secretary to the State Government on the newly reconstituted Delta State Traditional Rulers’ Council as it does not reflect the true and correct position of monarchs in the State.

“Your effort through the instrumentality of government to deliberately undermine, trivialize and take for granted the exalted, over 500 years old throne of the Olu of Warri as the undisputed monarch and Paramount Ruler of the aboriginal Warri territory but geopolitically split  for political administration under the designations of Warri South, Warri North and Warri South-West council areas respectively is at best unstatesmanlike of your exalted position in a State that presently enjoys peace of the graveyard.

“A government that is interested in making peace and ensuring we have genuine peace in his State via justice and good conscience would not embark on such a suicidal misadventure of intending to upturn the apple cart!

“It is now very obvious to us and sadly indeed that your government and its agents are  hell-bent in seeing to the extinction of Itsekiris from Delta State and as such we have no other means but to defend ourselves and our territory with whatever means possible and we strongly believed that our ancestors will stand and defend us.

“We hope you will take your time to look at your achievements right from when the State was created and how the original owners have derived their autonomy.

“The facts are there but your administration has chosen to do that which is against honour and integrity. 

“You have only succeeded in further enlarging the chasm  of mutual hatred amongst hitherto friendly ethnic neighbours with your mediocre administration in the State.

“But you still have limited time to immediately rectify this nauseating and provocative circular by going back to the extant structure that puts the Olu of Warri as numero uno monarch in the three Warri Council Areas.

“Otherwise, you may have to call a press briefing to tell Itsekiris in Warri North LGA, Warri South West LGA who their royal father is or if you have created a different one for them (afterall, these days, traditional rulers and titles are ten a penny in Delta State!)

“We are being seriously constrained in this first official demand to you for reasons exclusive to us for now. Next time, we may not have that restraint anymore”.

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