ETHIOPE WEST ITSEKIRIS KNOCK URHOBOS OF OGHARA, MOSOGAR OVER COMMENTS ON OLU OF WARRI

Itsekiris of Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State under the aegis of Itsekiri Historical Front and the Itsekiri National Youth Council (INYC), umbrella body of Itsekiri youths worldwide have both knocked Urhobos of Oghara and Mosogar kingdoms over what they described as “inappropriate publications against His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri Kingdom and “deregotary words against His Majesty (Olu of Warri) on Facebook and during a protest in Mosogar”. 

These were contained in separate petitions written to the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Sheriff Oborevwori and made available to Warri Sentinel. 

The petitions were in reaction to a protest staged by a section of Mosogar youths and women on Monday June 10, 2024 against a proposed visit of the Olu of Warri to Efurokpe, Ekuobodo communities and other Itsekiri communities in Delta Central; but a source within the Olu’s Palace confirmed to this reporter that the Olu of Warri was overseas and not scheduled to visit the said communities on the day of the protest. 

However, according to findings by Warri Sentinel, the protest was a reaction to homage paying by some Itsekiri communities in Delta Central to the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR during his quarterly Ghigho Aghofen (Change of Guard) ceremony on March 16, 2024. The communities include; Efurokpe, Ekuobodo, Ibrifo, Oyeaja (Aja-Omoneukanrin), Aja-Futughe, Efo, Ogunmeyin, Ajatiton, Aja-Uduaghan, Ifole, Ewuse, and Obite-ukpagha. 

On March 21, 2024, His Majesty, Orefe III, the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom and His Majesty, Uduaka I, the Ovie of Mosogar kingdom made a publication accusing the Warri Monarch of laying claim to their lands -a claim the Itsekiris of Delta Central have now dismissed.

The Itsekiri Historical Front through its chairman and Secretary, Lily-white O. Esigbone and Silva Maku respectively said that “Itsekiri communities in Ethiope West are not under either the Oghara or Mosogar kingdoms. 

“Just like an Ijaw village in Delta State is being ruled by an Ijaw king in Bayelsa and even recognized by the state government, that is how all Itsekiri communities in Delta State and Edo State are under the Olu of Warri kingdom.

“They are independent communities that have long been oppressed with government power in Ethiope and other Delta Central LGAs. They are all under the kingdom of Warri regardless of geographical location.”

On their part, The INYC, through its Acting President, Utieyin Godwin and the Chairman of INYC, Delta Central Chapter opined that the Itsekiri communities of Ethiope West who have “over 56 Polling Units, about 40% of the total voting population of Ethiope West supported the Governor Sheriff political race in 2023 but are still been faced with strong political battle for their survival from their Urhobo neighbours who are starving them of all rights and dividends due them. 

“whereas in Warri, the two Urhobo kingdoms in Warri South enjoy all privileges due them because of the kindness of the Itsekiri people as against the marginalization meted on the Itsekiri by Urhobos of Ethiope West.

“While the Oghara Kingdom, and Mosogar Kingdom were gazetted by the State Government in 2006, the Itsekiri people in Ethiope West were not gazzetted among them. They own their lands and legal documents are available to back it.”

The Itsekiri leaders called on the Governor of Delta State to caution the Oghara and Mosogar people against stoking ethnic crisis, arguing that the Olu of Warri would be acting well within his rights and extant laws whenever he decides to visit subjects in other Local Government Areas as he is the overlord of all Itsekiris worldwide.

“The Governor of Delta State and his ever working cabinet should intervene before it gets out of hand because the Itsekiri people will not be the first to attack but will surely defend themselves from any attack from her aggressive neighbors,” they advised.