We will speak the language of crippling the economy, if Ijala Ward is not created - Four Itsekiri Communities, warn FG

Four Itsekiri Communities in Warri South Local Government Area; Ifiekporo, Ajaetan, Ikeren and Utunwa, have threatened to cripple the economy, if the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, fails to create Ijala Ward from the existing Obodo / Omadino Ward.

According to leaders of the communities, since the creation of Warri South Local Government Area in 1991, government at all levels, have refused to acknowledge their numerical growth and economic viability.

The warning, was handed down in Warri, Delta State, Sunday June 21, during a press conference.

 Cross section of Representatives of the four communities, at the media briefing

Addressing newsmen on behalf of the four communities, Pa Michael Domino, noted that it was instructive to remind the federal government that oil facilities such as oil fields, managed by Conoil and Seplat, petroleum depots; namely Matrix Energy Ltd, AYM Shafa, Pinnacle Oil and Gas, Parker Oil, A & E Petrol, Keonamex Oil and Gas as well as Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, are domiciled in their land.

He asked: "How is it INEC can propose three wards for the riverbank of Warri GRA - a marketplace, where people come to do business and return to their respective homes in Ogbe - Ijoh and neighbouring LGAs, but can't propose same for Ijala (comprising Ifie, Ajaetan, Ikeren, Utunwa)?"

 A Cross Section of Indigenes of the communities present

The statement, reads inter - alia :"It is with great sense of anger and utter displeasure that we address Mr. President, His Excellency, Bola Tinubu and the electoral institution, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the proposed composition of electoral wards in Warri South Local Government Area. 

"This Press Conference became necessary after all civil and constitutional means employed to press home our proposal for the balkanization of Obodo/Omadino electoral ward into 4 independent wards proved unheeded. 

"Since the creation of this LGA in 1991, government and the leaders of Warri South have refused to acknowledge our numerical growth and economic viability which are what bequeath oil producing status on this LGA. 

"This Ijala Axis of Warri Islands has 4 communities and are hosts to oil companies (including Warri Refinery) and have arable lands which are the mainstay of Warri South today. 

"Our demand for the creation of Ijala Ward from the existing Obodo/Omadino Ward is a legitimate cause because we have the numerical and economic strength to become a stand-alone Ward.

"For clarity, Obodo and Omadino are two autonomous communities in Warri South. The other communities being; Ifie, Ajaetan, Ikeren, Utunwa, Ubeji, Egbokodo, Orere-Uluba, Ubiro, Aja-Osolo, Uwakeno, Ugboritseduwa, Ubarira, Ugbikoko and Jaluwa-Efueye.

"When the Supreme Court-ordered ward delineation commenced in 2023, INEC officials visited our communities to carry out their fieldwork. 

"But to our greatest disappointment, in all the proposals INEC shared with ethnic stakeholders, not one single ward was proposed for us. Frustratingly, we are still pegged back in Obodo/Omadino ward. 

"Is INEC telling us that we have not increased numerically since 1991? Is INEC telling us that only those with dollars and violent tendencies are fit to be allotted wards? 

"How is it that INEC can propose three wards for the riverbank of Warri GRA -a marketplace where people come to do business and return to their respective homes in Ogbe-Ijoh and neighbouring LGAs but can’t propose same for Ijala (comprising Ifie, Ajaetan, Ikeren, Utunwa).

"It is instructive to remind the federal government that oil facilities such as oils fields managed by Conoil and Seplat, petroleum depots namely; Matrix Energy Ltd, AYM Shafa, Pinnacle Oil and Gas, Parker Oil, A&E Petro, Keonamex Oil and Gas and the Warri Refinery are domiciled in our land. We can assure Nigerians that we will not shy away from shutting down critical oil fields and depots if INEC fails to allot for us the much deserved Ijala ward. These four communities in this area have the most legitimate entitlement to new wards, not streets, not waterfront, not markets in Warri mainland. 

"We will not sit idly by only to be overlooked yet again as INEC prepares its delineation final report in Warri Federal constituency.

"For us, allotting Ijala ward to us from what INEC is proposing is non-negotiable and it is now or never, otherwise we will speak the only language the Federal Government understands -crippling the economy."

Fresh Angle International, can report that Pa William Ejegi, Pa Francis Eyifoma, Pa Alfred Edon, Hon. Tuoyo Ebigbeyi and Mrs. Abigail Tonukarin, also addressed the media, expressing anger over what they described as too much oppression against people of the densely populated Itsekiri communities.

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