Delineation: Ijaw, Urhobo leaders push back on Tinubu’s intervention, some Itsekiris head to court

The Chief Godspower Gbenekama and Olorogun Victor Okumagba led Indigenous Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri Federal Constituency, have pushed back on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political solution to the raging controversy surrounding INEC’s proposed delineation of units, wards, state and federal constituencies in Warri Federal Constituency.

The Indigenous Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri Federal Constituency in a statement Sunday June 14, claimed that President Tinubu directed that there should be Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on power sharing and rotation in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State, saying: “The Ijaws and Urhobos in response, proposed for the sharing/rotation of the House of Representatives Seats for Warri Federal Constituency 1 and Warri Federal Constituency II, the Chairmanship of Warri North, Warri South-West and Warri South Local Government Areas and appointment of Commissioners in all the three Local Government Areas.”

Document sighted by This Flagship Niger Delta Digital Newspaper, however revealed that Olorogun Victor Okumagba and Chief Westham Adehor, were witnesses to the accord signed by Ijaw and Itsekiri leaders, agreeing to the creation of Warri Federal Constituency II, from the existing Warri Federal Constituency (to be called Warri Federal Constituency I) “which should “be rotated between the Ijaws and the Itsekiris, with Ijaws taking the first slot of two terms and same shall apply to the Itsekiris.”

The accord, by the Itsekiri and Ijaw leaders, which was signed after a two-hour meeting at the conference room of the National Security Adviser on June 12, chaired by the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, with the Deputy Director of the Directorate of State Services, Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, noted: “The two sides (Itsekiri and Ijaw leaders) also urged the Federal Government to take all constitutional means to achieve the creation of the new constituency.”

The agreement, as witnessed by Chief Okumagba and Chief Westham Adehor, had nothing to do with rotation and sharing of power for “Warri Federal Constituency I (solely for Warri South LGA) to be created from the existing Warri Federal Constituency, the Chairmanship of Warri North, Warri South-West and Warri South Local Government Areas, and appointment of Commissioners in all the three Local Government Areas”, as demanded by the Chief Godspower Gbenekama and Olorogun Victor Okumagba led Indigenous Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri Federal Constituency. 

“The Itsekiris (Sir Amorighoye Sunny Mene and Chief Robinson Ariyo) in response, opposed the inclusion of rotation of Warri Federal Constituency I, Chairmanship of the three Warri Local Government Areas and Commissioner appointment on the basis that the Presidential Directive applies to only the rotation of the proposed Warri Federal Constituency II and that the other issues are within the constitutional authority of the Delta State Government to mediate”, the Chief Godspower Gbenekama and Olorogun Victor Okumagba led Indigenous Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri Federal Constituency, acknowledged in their statement released Sunday June 14. 

While accusing the Itsekiris of ploy to truncate the Presidential intervention and signing of MoU to resolve the issues arising from the implementation of the Supreme Court ordered delineation of Warri Federal Constituency, the Chief Godspower Gbenekama and Olorogun Victor Okumagba group, warned: “We state in conclusion that any further delay in the implementation of the delineation report and attempt to alter the report would amount to betray of trust by the Federal Government and INEC, and we should not be blamed for the likely consequences that would follow.”

Meanwhile, This Soaring International Tabloid, has uncovered moves by some Itsekiris to challenge President Tinubu’s political solution, by heading to Federal High Court in Abuja, today, Monday June 15.

The Itsekiris, whose identities were unknown as at the time of this report, posited: “All that took place at the villa between the Itsekiri, Ijaw & Urhobo individuals is a barren exercise in the eyes of the law.

“The President is not INEC and therefore can only offer persuasive suggestions as he did and we are saying CAPITAL NO to his advice, because the Supreme Court ordered for delineation before future elections, not INEC reinstating suppressed constituencies.

“In this case, the instruction from the Supreme Court, cannot be jettisoned by intellectually lazy government officials, that appear to have been compromised by Tantita blood money.”

Recall that This Newspaper had reported how President Tinubu on Thursday June 11 proffered political solution, aimed at a mutually beneficial rotational power sharing arrangement.

President Tinubu, reportedly emphasized the need for Itsekiris, Ijaws and Urhobos in Warri Federal Constituency to live together in brotherhood and encouraged mutual respect.

A very credible source, who was in attendance at the meeting convened by the President, Thursday June 11, Fresh Angle International that President Tinubu ordered 11/ 9 wards formula between Ijaws and Itsekiris in Warri South - West Local Government Area, with the Ijaws of Isaba, Ogbe - Ijoh and Gbaramatu, having 11 wards, leaving the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality with the remaining 9 wards. The President's position, was departure from the 13 wards INEC proposed for the Ijaws of Warri South - West Local Government Area and 7 for the Itsekiris in the local government.

President Tinubu, reportedly told the ethnic leaders in attendance, that he saw the units and wards delineation proposal for Warri South - West Local Government Area, as the major contention, hence he came out with the 11/9 solution.

According to our source, President Tinubu, who was silent on the delineation proposal for Warri North Local Government Area, said there was need to change the nomenclature of the three controversial wards proposed by INEC in the GRA, Pessu and Dore Market axis of Warri South Local Government Area.

He posited that a separate state constituency for Ijaws in Warri South - West and Warri North Local Government Areas, with Itsekiris having state constituencies of their own in the two local government areas, should address any fear of ethnic deprivation in terms of political representation in the State House of Assembly.

President Tinubu, also okayed a separate Federal Constituency to be created for Warri South Local Government Area, as proposed by INEC and urged leaders of the ethnic Nationalities to sign an accord, which would result in rotational representation for Warri North/ Warri South - West Federal Constituency (Warri Federal Constituency II) in the House of Representatives.

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, attended the crucial meeting, where President Tinubu, told the ethnic leaders to prevail on their women and youths, to immediately stop ongoing protests at  critical  National oil and gas facilities.

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