You turn a blind eye on happenings against Itsekiri, but quick to insult our chiefs - Tonwe tells Oborevwori

Former Itsekiri students' leader, David Utseoritsemofe Tonwe, has accused Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, of turning a blind eye on happenings against Itsekiri Nation, but quick to insult Warri Council of Chiefs.

Tonwe, opined that Warri Kingdom in particular and Delta State as a whole, is enjoying peace, because the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, is surrounded by chiefs, who give him sound counsel.

David Utseoritsemofe Tonwe

The ex - President of National Association of Itsekiri Students, NAIS, in an electronic statement sent to Fresh Angle International in the wee hours of Saturday August 22, said he hasn't seen or read about Governor Oborevwori chastising one Ejiro Imuere " who became chief through insulting Olu of Warri and Itsekiri Nation."

Tonwe's statement, reads:"It is with a heart full of joy that I and my family rejoice with my royal father, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, as he marks his 5th coronation anniversary on the ancient and prestigious throne of Warri Kingdom.

 "A heartfelt thank you to every Itsekiri son and daughter who travelled from far and near to honour this great occasion. My special appreciation also goes to the Executive Governor of Lagos state Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and all the kings from the West, North, East, and Southern parts of Nigeria who joined us in Warri Kingdom for this celebration. To our neighbours in Warri, its environs, and Delta State at large, I say thank you for coming. May God keep you all and give you reasons to celebrate as well.

"I also want to use this medium to express my deep concerns, and that of many youths of Warri Kingdom, regarding Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, the Executive Governor of Delta State, repeated insults to the respected Council of Chiefs of Warri Kingdom. Sir, you are not the first governor of Delta State, and you will not be the last. God helping you, at most, you have another four years to serve as governor if you win your re-election next year.

"There is a saying: the first time may be a slip of the tongue, but when it repeats itself, it becomes intentional. Sir, what you cannot do in your own kingdom, in the palace of the Oroje of Okpe kingdom, please do not bring it to another man’s place. It is shameful and disgusting to see a governor speak in ways that appear to undermine or disrespect the Warri Council of Chiefs and in extension Itsekiri Nation, simply because you are governor. 

"Warri Kingdom is enjoying peace today and by extension, Delta State at large because our king is surrounded by chiefs who give him sound counsel. Sacrificing in the expense of right and heritage.  

" It is on record that recently, the Olu of Warri planned visits to Itsekiri communities in Ethiope West and Ugbolokposo in Uvwie Local Government Areas as routine based on our revered Monarch way of going to identify with his children in different communities.

" In both cases, protests were staged and the visits were cancelled. Those who protested against the king’s visit to a well-known and documented Itsekiri communities are your people by tribe, and they were allegedly supported by chiefs from those kingdoms. When these incidents happened, we did not hear a word from you. Yet those alleged to be behind these acts continue to advise their own kings, right?

"Sir, I have never seen you or read anywhere where you as the Governor of Delta State, chastise one Mr. Ejiro Imuere, who became chief through insulting Olu of Warri and Itsekiri Nation through force narrative. And many of your kinsmen and numerous Urhobo, by creating tension in Warri through social media attacks on the Olu of Warri and the Itsekiri people. 

"Ejiro has repeatedly described all Supreme Court pronouncements on Warri territories as fraudulent and outdated, creating false narratives that had been causing tension in parts of Warri township and other Itsekiri settlements in Delta Central. 

"I remember Ejiro Imuere stating in one of his write-ups how Dr. Michael Tidi , former Warri South LGA Chairman, reported him to former Governor Okowa during his tenure for causing trouble in Warri. And immediately, former governor Okowa left office, he resumed.  

I think, and believe, Ejiro is acting with boldness because you been the current governor of the state, is backing him.

"The Scriptures teach in Matthew 7:3–5 (KJV):

“Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”Sir, if truly you have expectations from the Warri Council of Chiefs and you believe they are not meeting them, what stops you from calling them for a meeting and advising them, instead of openly insulting elderly people who have children that are around your age?

" Please do not let the office of governor take away the culture of respecting elders from you.,I respectfully plead with you, address the issues within your own house first before coming out to make statements that appear to indirectly insult the respected chiefs of Warri Kingdom. It is in your kingdom that we have people fermenting trouble up and down.

"I heard you say again in the palace of the Olu of Warri that you are a “Warri boy,” yet you remain silent when people from your tribe — including chiefs are on social media and on ground cause tension in Warri day and night.

 "But quick to accused Warri kindly chiefs when ever you come to the palace of the Olu of Warri, and at the sane time claiming you are a Warri man. Warri does not need people who claim Warri by day and gather others to oppose Warri by night. Sir, if you have nothing of important to say to our respected chiefs whenever you visit the palace, please go straight to the purpose of your visit and avoid actions that appear like a “green snake in the grass.” Who they cry they see clearly oh. 

"Please do not push some of us to speak further. We know many things happening against the Itsekiri nation under this your government that you turn a blind eye to, yet you are quick to insult the Warri Council of Chiefs. 

"Finally, we have two governors in attendance on this glorious occasion, and and after they left, each wrote on their official facebook page. 

"Lagos Governor wrote: Today i joined His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri, at the Aghofen Palace in Delta to celebrate his fifth coronation anniversary. Our traditional institution remain vital anchor of out culture and unity across Nigeria. 

" I congratulate His Majesty on five years anniversary of purposeful leadership and wished him many more years of good health, wisdom and impactful reign on the throne of his ancestors.

"Second Governor write: A.K.A. Mr Ogiame is good man: Today, it was a pleasure and a memorable moment to join His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR in celebrating his 5th coronation anniversary. As a peace loving Monarch with uncommon leadership qualities, i used the occasion to appeal to all ethnic nationalities in Warri, Effurun and environs to continue to uphold the peace and unity we currently enjoy. I congratulated the Olu on his this significant milestone and wished him many more fruitful years on the throne.

"Like, i said earlier, we know those who are Warri boy by day and the same at night, and those who said so in day and do other wise at night."

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