Ownership Controversy: Pa Atemubaghan contradicted his earlier publication, stating Kantu is an Itsekiri Community, from Omadino – Yomere

The Chief Priest of Omadino Federated Communities in Warri Federal Constituency, Roland Oti Yomere, says the recent claim by the Olare-Aja (oldest man) of Kantu Community, Pa. Edwin Atikan Atemubaghan, that Kantu is a Gbamaratu-Ijaw Community, contradicted a publication credited to the same Pa. Atemubaghan sometime in the year 2000.

Chief Priest Yomere, who addressed newsmen on behalf Omadino indigenes at Nenuwa Hall, Omadino in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, Tuesday June 10, asserted: “Pa. Edwin Atikan Atemubaghan popularly known as Edcan, who is among those that addressed the barbaric press conference, had sometime in the year 2000 released a publication wherein he stated the truth that Kantu community is purely an Itsekiri community from Omadino, so, his recent action as seen in press conference demonstrates purely that he has either been blackmailed or compromised.”

Mr. Tuoyo Mogbeyiteren (right) Engr. Tuoyo Woligho (2nd right) & other Omadino indigenes present, during the press briefing

Below is the full text of the thoughts of Omadino indigenes as read by Chief Priest Yomere:

“1. I am Chief Priest Roland Oti Yomere, Atsaka Ti Omadino and Chairman, Legal & Litigations Sub Committee of Omadino Community, and I make this press briefing at the instance of the Olaraja Ti Omadino, Pa. Godfrey Oruru Edemadiden, and the entire people of Omadino Community to set the records straight, and to debunk the false historical narratives being peddled by Chief Government Ekpemupolo AKA Tompolo, Chief Godspower Gbenakama (Spokesman of Gbaramatu Ijaw), and their co-travellers.

“2. That Omadino Community is an aboriginal Itsekiri community and an integral and inseparable part of the Warri Kingdom with a clear, distinct, and verifiable history that spans over 6 centuries, predating even the Warri kingdom.

“3. Our ancestors founded, pitched tents, possessed, dwelled, and made their living out of the surrounding environment spanning our vast territories which cuts across present day Warri South, Warri North and Warri South West LGAs of Delta State.

“4. Our homelands, dotting the marshlands and mangrove territories of the Warri kingdom include, but  are not limited to , settlements such as Okerenghigho, Akpata, Bakokodia, Kantu, Ajelebe, Egwa, Lolomi, etc

“5. Our territories are bounded to the North by Ubagboro, Eghoro in present day Warri North LGA of Delta State, to the south by the Escravos river, to the West by Nana Creek and Ugborodo communities in present day Warri South West LGA, and to the East by Sapele and Okpe LGA. Anyone dwelling within these traditional, historical, and legally established boundaries are our customary tenants, including the Gbaramatu people. This has since been established in Suit No. W/29/1949 E. E. Sillo v. Adurumukumor.

“6. We know who we are and where we are coming from. It is not in the place of anyone from Gbaramatu to tell our history, ancestry, lineages, destiny or aspirations, except they do so for the purpose of mischief or to deliberately misinform the public with fabricated tales.

“7. The people of Omadino are descendants of Oba Nenuwa of Ode in Ijebu kingdom in present-day Ogun state, and we are very proud of who we are.

“*ON THE INTIMIDATION AND ATTEMPTED ANNEXATION OF KANTU COMMUNITY IN WARRI* *SOUTH WEST LGA OF DELTA STATE BY TOMPOLO AND HIS COHORTS.* 

“1. Before the recent creation of political kingdoms in Delta state around 2007, Gbaramatu was only a clan, existing partially within Omadino lands and wholly within the Warri Kingdom. Even at that, the Gbaramatu clan does not extend up to Kantu community, which exists on land bequeathed to the children of Abiloro of Omadino. Among those children include Erenbo (female), who was married to Oweizibiri from Gbaraun in present-day Bayelsa State. Aside from Erenbo, the other children of Abiloro also dwelled in Kantu and procreated there.

“2. Oweizibri did not found Kantu, but only lived in Kantu by virtue of his marriage to Erenbo, the daughter of Abiloro of Omadino. The other siblings of Erenbo, who are also from Kantu, have no blood connection with Ijaws and have their own blood line well defined as Itsekiris, except those of Erenbo by Oweizibri. If those who claim to be descendants of Oweizibri wish to identify with other Ijaws of Gbaramatu, it is their decision to so do, but to declare Kantu as an Ijaw community is misleading and unacceptable.

“3. Kantu Community has never been and will never be an Ijaw community, but an Itsekiri community.

“4. Testifying under oath in Suit No. W/29/1949, no less a person than Gbabo, the then President of Gbaramatu clan stated, and I quote:

"I live at Oporaja on the Escravos river, Warri Province. I know the Gbaramatu clan. The clan consists of ijaw people from about 8 villages and many small fishing ports. The 8 villages are:

1. Oporaja,

2. Kunukunuma

3. Ajama

4. Benikrukru

5. Kokodiagbene

6. Okerenkoko

7. Agoba

8. Inikoroba.

“Gbabo went further to list 1. Pemugbene, 2. Ekpemu 3. Asigogbene 4. Awpotogbene as smaller fishing posts.

“It should be noted that Kantu, which was already a major community as of 1949, was never listed as one of the communities of Gbaramatu clan. We refer you to the testimony in chief of the then President of Gbaramatu clan, in the person of Gbabo.

“So where is the history as stated by Tompolo and Chief  Gbenakama coming from? Why are they bent on misleading the public? Why the barbaric attempt to annex Kantu?

“Let us assume, but not conceding that Kantu community is an Ijaw Community as alleged. Why was it burnt thrice by the Gbaramatu Ijaws during the infamous Warri crisis? 

“Tompolo and his cohorts are laying false claim to Kantu community because they know that over 80% of Kantu land is what they are claiming to be Gbaramatu, that is, without Kantu Community there is no Gbaramatu hence they are doing all they can to annex Kantu community as theirs. It is pertinent to state at this point that Tompolo threatened the people of Kantu that unless and until they address the public via a press conference, they should stay away from the said community. Also, that there should not be any form of activity whatsoever in the community. 

“Kantu as a community is far older than Gbaramatu clan, and its history must be preserved, not bastardized. Both Kantu and Gbaramatu are all children of Omadino. We call on the good people of Warri Kingdom and the entire public to disregard the shameless press conference, targeted at rubbishing the rich history of Kantu Community. 

“The Olare-Aja of Kantu Community, Pa. Edwin Atikan Atemubaghan popularly known as Edcan who is among those that addressed the barbaric press conference had sometime in the year 2000 released a publication wherein he stated the truth that Kantu community is purely an Itsekiri community from Omadino so, his recent action as seen in press conference demonstrates purely that he has either been blackmailed or compromised. 

“Kantu is one of the communities administered by the Itsekiri Communal Land Trustees and also is one of the most documented communities in Warri kingdom with several Court cases won as Itsekiri people under the overlordship of the Olu of Warri, prominent among which is the court case against Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) over land acquisition in the Egwa Field. In that case, they proclaimed that they are Itsekiris. Where were the Tompolos and Gbenakamas then?

“We wish to bring to the attention of the world that the Attorney General of Delta State has been compromised to use his office to re-gazette the Kantu community which is purely an Itsekiri owned Community, as an Ijaw community and that we will use all legal arsenal within our power to resist same.

“This press conference has become necessary to put the records straight for the world to take note.”

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