Posted by Niger Delta Youth Council
ITSEKIRI FALSE CLAIM OF OLU OVERLORDSHIP IN WARRI
AND
THE UNLAWFUL WANTON DESTRUCTION OF URHOBO PROGRESS UNION (UPU) PROPERTIES AT NO. 18, OKERE ROAD, OTOVWODO/ AGBASSA WARRI BY DR. MICHAEL TIDI AND WEYINMI ISAAC AGBATEYINIRO ON 24TH AND 30TH OF JANUARY, 2024
Our attention has been drawn to an open letter addressed to His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, dated 27th January, 2024, published in the Vanguard Newspaper of 27th January, 2024, at page 22 with the title: “AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY SHERIFF F.O. OBOREVWORI, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE TO CALL THE UPU YOUTH WING PRESIDENT, MR. UGHERE BLESSED AND HIS CO-TRAVELERS TO ORDER SO AS NOT TO STIR UP ANOTHER ROUND OF WARRI CRISES WITH THEIR ILLEGAL ATTEMPT AT RENAMING PARTS OF MAJOR AREAS OF WARRI CITY.”
Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have bothered ourselves indulging in youths affairs, but we are constraint to respond to the said open letter because of the Itsekiri false claim of Warri ownership and the unimaginable Olu of Itsekiri people overlordship in Warri and the wanton destruction of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) property at Urhobo House, No. 18 Okere Road, Otovwodo/ Agbassa Warri.
Your Excellency sir, in less than three months we have responded via your office to five different Itsekiri groups on the ownership of Warri Township i.e “The Movement for the Protection of Iwere Homeland and Development and History (MPIHDH) (2) Warri South Itsekiri Political Forum, (3) Itsekiri People’s Front, (4) Itsekiri Political Advancement Front and now is the Itsekiri National Youth Council. In all our responses, we have carefully cataloged the expedition of Ginuwa from Benin to Amatu (An Ijaw town), Oruselemo “in Burutu” en rout Ijala and Ode-Itsekiri. We have equally, proven with facts that there is no Itsekiri ancestral communities/ homes in Warri township.
Sir, we wish to present the following additional historical facts to help you make informed decisions and to educate the general public on the Itsekiri land grabbing acts on Urhobo lands in Warri Township, particularly Otovwodo/Agbassa community land.
Prior to the advent of the Bini Prince “Iginuwa” the territory now known as Warri township was inhabited by two tribes namely Urhobo (Sobos) and Ijaws (Ijos) “A history of Itsekiri” by an heir apparent to the throne of Olu, William A. Moore 1970, page 13)
“There is a tantalizing hint that the Warri township people were originally Urhobos “Sobos” and Ijaws “Ijos” (A Short History of West Africa, book one, by T. A. Osae and S. N. Nwabara, 1968 page 148)
“The trade in the Itsekiri land grew extensively and “Big Warri” (Ode-Irsekiri) as capital remained it focal point. As time went on the expanding trade in Itsekiri land spilled over to the main land – “New Warri” (A British name)…. Before then the Urhobos (Sobos) and Ijaws (Ijos) had already settled in their respective settlement in Warri Township. However, the need arose for the Itsekiri people to re-order their way of life to suit the new dispensation. For example, it became necessary for the Olu thereafter to maintain palaces both at “Big Warri” (Ode-Itsekiri) and “New Warri” (Warri Township) (A History of Warri on page 7, by J.O.S Ayomike)
Therefore, in view of the above historical facts, we will drop our pen on vacation for now until the Itsekiri people come together and contradict the works of Itsekiri highly respected writer and historian, J.O.S Ayomike, in his book “A History of Warri”.
However, we reiterate our earlier question to the Itsekiri people and it sub-groups, particularly, the Itsekiri National Youth Council (INYC), which demand an answer over the years, “which of the Itsekiri descendants are from Warri township?” Because the Itsekiri conglomerate of “Omadimo, Ureju, Okutunmi, Irigbo and other Aboriginal Itsekiri Communities that amalgamated into Itsekiri as a nation/tribe has no foots in Warri township, hence we refer to the Itsekiri King making/Chieftaincy Organogram below for further understanding:
- Prince Iginuwa “Ginuwa 1” – Ijala and Ode-Itsekiri
- Ologbotsere – Jakpa (Benin River)
- Iyatsere – Ologbo (Benin)
- Oshodin – Tisun/Olobe (Benin River)
- Uwangue – Jakpa (Benin River)
The above are the components that amalgamated into what is known as Itsekiri tribe. Therefore, it is abnormal and degradation for any right thinking Itsekiri person to think or say that Itsekiri own a single plot of land in Warri Township, except under lease with the Urhobo communities in Warri or through the instrumentality of the British Political Agent “Chief Dore Numa”!
OMENTA VS DORE NUMA
The Otovwodo/Agbassa people represented by “Chief Igbi and other Chiefs” had already signed Treaty of Protection with Her Majesty Queen of the Great Britain and Ireland in Ref. F02/168 in 1893 and 1894 respectively, before Dore Numa was appointed Agent to the British Administration. Therefore, the land that was litigated upon by Omenta Vs Dore Numa was the same land under Treaty between Otovwodo/Agbassa people and British Government in 1893.
Another question is, “Why did Ogbe of Ugbuwangue not claim Agbassa lands considering he signed the Agbassa Lease B7 in 1911 and his lease to John Holt of Liverpool limited also in 1911? Chief Ogbe’s grandson “Arthur Prest” successfully resisted Dore-Numa and the Itsekiri Communal Land Trust in Suit No. W/14/70 resulting in compensation of 50 pounds awarded to him to the utmost surprise of the Benin River self-appointed successors and heirs to Dore.”
Omenta Vs Dore Numa judgment never gave title of Agbassa land to Itsekiri people who were never parties to the suit in question. And the defendant “Dore Numa” who was the British Government Agent from Deghele community in Benin River did not defend the action on behalf of the Itsekiri people. Therefore, it is erroneous and misleading for the Itsekiri people to say or think that Otovwodo/Agbassa people are customary tenant to the Itsekiri people in Warri Township.
Also, it is very correct and true that Oki Community of Okere-Urhobo kingdom shares common boundary with Otovwodo/Agbassa Community of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom along Okere Road. The boundary falls between the Nigerian Prison Service and the Okere Bridge, any Itsekiri interest therein is either by rent or lease from the above communities of Okere-Urhobo and Agbarha-Warri Kingdoms in Warri South Local Government Area or through the Itsekiri Communal Land Trust.
Your Excellency sir, in D. O. Idundun, Olu Erejuwa II, for themselves and on behalf of the entire Itsekiri people Vs D. E. Okumagba for himself and on behalf of Okere people in Suit No. W/48/68, affirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Suit No. SC/309/74. The court held amongst others that:
“All the tracts of land in Okere under the litigation plan was founded by three brothers, namely Idama, Sohworuvwe and Ohwotemu who are the ancestors of Olodi, Oki and Ighogbadu families of Okere-Urhobo kingdom in Warri township”.
In view of the above, Otovwodo/Agbassa community have no boundary with Okere-Itsekiri people and the sign post refers to by the Itsekiri National Youth Council is rightly positioned in the premises of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Secretariat, at No. 18 Okere Road, Otovwodo/Agbassa Warri, and the land belong to Otovwodo/ Agbassa Community, Warri, in Warri South Local Government Area.
We hereby urge His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State to set up an investigative panel to unravel the truth of the matter and to ascertain the true owners of the said area in Warri.
A RETROSPECTIVE OF OLU OF ITSEKIRI OVERLORDSHIP IN WARRI
Prince Iginuwa (Ginuwa 1) left Benin to Amatu “An Ijaw town” from Amatu he migrated to Oruselemo and other Ijaw towns and villages before he finally settled at Ijala. Prince Iginuwa (Ginuwa 1) lived, died and was buried at Ijala. Iginuwa first son “Ijijen founded Ode-Itsekiri” both Prince Iginuwa (Ginuwa 1) and his first son “Ijijen” never stepped their foots on Warri township.
This history was collaborated in Suit No. W/48/68 and affirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Suit No. SC/309/74 when the court held amongst others that:
“Ginuwa 1 expedition from Benin ended at Ijala and does not extend to Warri metropolis. He lived, died and was buried in Ijala.”
“A point which plaintiff and their counsel try to urge this court is that because the land in dispute is in Warri and so in Warri division, the Olu of Warri has rights of overlordship over all lands in Warri division”. The whole argument and views is erroneous. The Olu by his title, is Olu of Warri, but his right of overlordship relate only to lands of Itsekiri people and even then, there are ground for saying that it does not relate to the land of all Itsekiri people”
From the above Supreme Court Judgment, it is shameful and embarrassing for Itsekiri people to say that Olu of Itsekiri people has overlordship right in Warri and Warri South Local Government Area.
Furthermore, we wish to bring to your notice that the Itsekiri National Youth Council under the leadership of the present Commissioner for Youth Development Comr. Isaac Weyinmi Agbateyiniro between 2011 and 2023 instigated unsuccessful crises in attempt to reverse Warri South Local Government (INEC) (12) wards to ten (10) wards. Having failed in the above project, Comr. Isaac Weyinmi Agbateyiniro and his cohorts have picked up another sputter assignment on the ownership of Warri.
As a matter of facts, none of the members of the Itsekiri National Youth Council are from Warri Township. None of them can as well trace his or her ancestors to Warri Township. With the obvious facts of our ownership of Warri Township, we don’t refer to them as tenants as they are. Rather we see them as our neighbours, but they are always quick at turning the goal post at the middle of every match.
DESTRUCTION OF UPU PROPERTIES
In the same vein, we condemned in strong term the wanton destruction of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) properties at Urhobo House of No. 18 Okere Road, Otovwodo/ Agbassa Warri, on the 24th and 30th of January, 2024, by the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Council “Dr. Michael Tidi” and The Present Delta State Commissioner for Youth Development “Comrade Isaac Weyinmi Agbeteyiniro”
Dr. Michael Tidi and Weyinmi Agbeteyiniro personally lead the Itsekiri youths and thugs with dangerous weapons supported by Military men in broad day light to destroy UPU properties and threatened to pull down the building should we “Urhobo” further opposed their “Itsekiri claim of ownership of Warri Township. However, it took the grace of God to calm our restive youths who were prepared for a reprisal attack. The action of Michael Tidi and Weyinmi Agbeteyiniro has confirmed our position that Itsekiri people are using Tidi as Warri-South Local Govt. Chairman as a front to intimidate and further marginalize Urhobo people in Warri South Local Government Area.
We therefore urge your Excellency to investigate the matter and bring the culprits to face the full wrath of the law because we cannot continue to hold on our youths in the face of continuous attack by Tidi and Weyinmi Agbeteyiniro and their Itsekiri people.
It is also of fact that Comrade Isaac Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, the present Commissioner for Youth Development is behind the recent series of physical and media attacks on the defenseless Urhobo people in Warri Township over the ownership of Warri. Weyinmi Agbeteyiniro and Michael Tidi are also planning to attack Urhobo communities in Warri South Local Government Area in no distance time unless we stop to respond to their falsehood over Warri ownership.
However, we understand the Itsekiri frustration and predicament in the Warri context, but it is God’s creation and there is nothing anybody can do about it, but to take solace in him alone and not to result into violence and take laws into their hands.
As peace loving people, we further urge His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State to call the Itsekiri people to order and hold Dr. Michael Tidi, Comrade Isaac Weyinmi Agbeteyiniro, the present Commissioner for Youth Development and members of the Itsekiri National Youth Council responsible should there be any break down of law and order and possible threat to peace in Warri township and Warri South Local Government Area in general.
We will continue to prevail on our people, particularly the youths in the face of brazing provocation and attack to be law abiding and peaceful while we await for your Excellency prompt action.
In anticipation of your understanding and quick intervention.
Signed:
For and on behalf of Warri Urhobo National Congress
Chief (Dr.) Westham Adehor,JP
National President
Olorogun Victor Okumagba,JP
General Secretary
Hon. Mark Ikpuri
National Vice President
Chief Goddey Onotor
National Org. Secretary