WARRI STUDY GROUP

Knowledge for Justice

CONTACT ADDRESS:

C/O EDWARD O. EKPOKO, ESQ,

40, Cemetery Road,

Warri,

Delta State.

GSM: 08033918605

Date: 6th August, 2015

His Excellency,

Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd),

President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,

Federal Republic of Nigeria,

Presidential Villa,

Aso Rock,

Abuja.

Your Excellency, 

HOW NOT TO SEEK TO BE APPOINTED MINISTER FOR PETROLEUM RESOURCES

– SHUT UP: COMRADE BLESSING ODOWENE OF URHOBO CONSULTATIVE FORUM

In an advertorial published at page 12 of the Sunday Vanguard of July 19, 2015 titled “Thousands of Urhobo Youths Protest Marginalization, Call on President Buhari to Appoint Urhobo Indigene as Minister of Petroleum”, the National President of the Urhobo Consultative Forum, Comrade Blessing Odowene pleaded at paragraphs 5, 6 & 7 as follows:

“The marginalization started long ago. It can be traced to the era of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, when he was Premier of Western Region. That was when Warri, owned by the Urhobos, was given to the Itsekiris to dominate over it. He empowered the Itsekiris over the Urhobos by changing the title of Olu of Itsekiris to Olu of Warri. Again, today the capital of Delta State, which ought to be in Urhobo land, was taken to Anioma (Asaba) to witch-hunt the Urhobos, the largest ethnic group in the state.”

“…The Government has to go back to the drawing board with a view to recognizing the place and importance of Urhobo Land and give us the Minister of Petroleum”

“The protesters say by the marginalization of the Urhobo nation came to its height during the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan,…”

URHOBO FALSEHOOD EXPOSED:

i.          All Nigerians, except the sponsors of this falsehood, blackmail and treachery, are fully aware of the well-published and well-known facts about Itsekiri of Warri in Nigerian history. Before Chief Obafemi Awolowo ever decided to go to London to read law, or even chose to go into politics much later, the ownership of Warri had been settled judicially at the Privy Council in 1933 in favour of the Itsekiri in the case of Ometa vs. Dore Numa (No. 25 of 1926) reported in (1934) 11 NLR 18, (1934) 4 WACA 1. In the initial judgment delivered on December 30, 1929, the learned trial judge then said:

“I am quite satisfied on the evidence, apart from any legal plea of res judicata that when the Agbassa (Urhobo) came to Warri, they were given permission by the Olu of the Jekris to settle on land which is now known as Bomali or Agbassa village and that permission was granted to them to farm on lands adjoining their village.

That from the earliest time and during recent years, the Agbassa rendered service to the defendant (i.e. the Itsekiri people) as overlord…” (Words in bracket supplied for clarity)

Then they went to the Full Court (now Supreme Court) and lost in 1931 before they failed at the Privy Council in 1933. What about the over a dozen other judgments at the High Courts to the Supreme Court of eminent justices, among others, including Justices Oyeama, Madarikan, Mbanefo, Udo-Udoma, Uwaifo, Idigbe, etc up to 1973.

ii.          It is not true that the Urhobo were marginalized under President Jonathan. Even though some of President Jonathan’s policies were hostile towards many, same cannot be said of the Urhobo. Though, it is now fashionable for those currying favour from President Buhari to accuse President Jonathan of all evils, the truth must be told. The Urhobo under President Jonathan had 2 Ministers – Chiefs Kenneth Gbagi and Stephen Oru and Chairpersons of Boards including the National Judicial Institute.

iii.         President Jonathan’s sweet romance with, and benevolence to, the Urhobos made the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) take a vow to neither eat nor drink until President Jonathan was voted in at the last election to the extent that UPU even refused to welcome General Muhammadu Buhari, then campaigning for election. President Jonathan’s alleged largesse caused the disgraceful fragmentation that belittled and mocked the Urhobo nation before and after the election. Has “comrade” Blessing Odowene forgotten so soon?

WHY URHOBO ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO HAVE THE PETROLEUM MINISTRY?

i.          The Urhobo claimed in the 2nd paragraph of the said publication that the Urhobo nation contributes over 80% of the nation’s income. Though they did not name their resources, but since it is the Petroleum Ministry they want, we can safely say it is oil & gas. If it is so, it is false; no state in Nigeria produces up to 50% of its oil & gas. The leading oil producing state in Nigeria presently is Akwa-Ibom State. Delta State comes in after Rivers and Baysela States. The Urhobo are among the least producers of oil & gas even in Delta State. They produce about 20% of Delta State production, far behind the Itsekiri and Ijaw in Delta State going by records of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and DESOPADEC.

ii.          The Ijaw as an ethnic nation remains the leading oil producing ethnic nationality in Nigeria followed by the Itsekiri of the 3-Warri Local Government Areas of Delta State. One may ask; why do they want the Ministry of Petroleum Resources? Is it the opportunity for looting in the industry that has now been exposed and being investigated? When have ministerial appointments, been filled by advertorial placement?

CONCLUSION:

We are surprised our Urhobo neighbor has not imbibed the palpable change the Buhari Era has ushered in! Advertise for ministerial appointment!! Perish the idea, you are not qualified!!! God save Nigeria!!!

EDWARD EKPOKO, ESQ.                                       TONY EDE

Chairman, Warri Study Group                                    Secretary, Warri Study Group

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