A prominent rights activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has issued a stern warning to both the Federal Government and the Delta State Government to disregard the Ijaw’s recent demands for the delineation of wards in Warri Federal Constituency.
Her comments come amid ongoing tensions surrounding the historical and constitutional claims to the Warri Kingdom.
In a detailed statement, Lori-Ogbebor reiterated that Warri Kingdom is traditionally and legally the territory of the Itsekiri people. She stated, “The history of Urhobo and Ijaw fighting the Itsekiri is very historical indeed but the Itsekiri has tried, especially when there are people who don’t want violence.”
Lori-Ogbebor emphasized that the Itsekiri community has consistently sought legal redress rather than resorting to violence in their disputes. She explained, “They believe that if you beat the Itsekiris the only place they can run to is the law court, which they have been doing. The reason is that the Itsekiris are the owners of Warri and it is called Warri Kingdom.”
She highlighted that numerous legal judgments have affirmed the Itsekiri’s ownership of Warri, stating, “All the legal judgements have proved beyond reasonable doubt that Itsekiris are owners of Warri.” According to her, despite these legal victories, there has been a persistent attempt by some neighbors to undermine Itsekiri claims and stability. “But this seems to give our neighbours nightmares and they cannot accept it,” she said.
Lori-Ogbebor further elaborated on the historical context of the legal battles over the ward delineations. She recounted, “It is quite clear in our constitution that the structure of the federal government regarding the wards and local governments is clear that all over the country we have 10 wards in every local government.” She detailed that the Warri Kingdom, which comprises three local governments, has adhered to this structure since it was established in 1992.
However, she explained that the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) made attempts to alter the ward structure in 1996 and 1997, a move the Itsekiri contested in court. Lori-Ogbebor described the subsequent legal victories for the Itsekiri, saying, “We went back to court and the court told them that they were wrong and that they should go back to the federal constitution.”
Despite these rulings, she claimed that NECON continued to flout the constitution, leading to further legal challenges. “Again, the court is our refuge, we went back to court and the court told them that they were wrong and that they should go back to the federal constitution,” she said.
Lori-Ogbebor’s statement also addressed broader regional tensions, noting, “We allow everybody to stay and have peace because peace is what we want.” She urged national attention to the situation in the Niger Delta, asserting, “I have written to the police, the defence headquarters and the National Security Adviser to tell them of the imminent danger in the Niger Delta.”
In her conclusion, Lori-Ogbebor warned against viewing the conflict through a purely tribal lens, stating, “I don’t want anybody to make a mistake to think that the problem in the Niger Delta is a tribal problem.” Her comments reflect a call for understanding and resolution within the complex socio-political dynamics of the Niger Delta region.
