Being A Heartfelt Message from the Ijaw Stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency to INEC

Date: July 16, 2025

The truth has bled for too long. Beneath the creeks of Warri, the winds whisper a long-silenced history, yearning to break free from the chains of manipulation and falsehood. We are at a historic crossroad, one that demands courage, not compromise, clarity, not confusion.

For decades, a carefully constructed myth has masqueraded as fact, that the Itsekiris are the sole owners of Warri, that the Olu of Warri is a king over lands and peoples who never pledged him allegiance, that the Ijaws and Urhobos are mere squatters in their ancestral territories. These are not just lies, they are wounds inflicted upon truth and justice.

But time, like history, is a stubborn judge. And the era of fraudulent tactics, deceptive legal gymnastics, historical forgery and ethnic manipulation must give way to fact, to the future, to the spirit of the Nigerian constitution and to the principles of democratic equality.

Let it be known that the Ijaws of Warri were here before the crown arrived, before the Itsekiris crossed the Bight of Benin, and long before British officers drew artificial lines to ease indirect rule. The Olu of Warri, originally styled as Olu of Itsekiri, was never king over Ogbe-Ijoh, Gbaramatu, Isaba, Diebiri, Egbema or the entire Warri mainland. These lands were Ijaw and Urhobo long before they were ever claimed by colonial favor or diplomatic proximity.

In Suit No. W/148/78 (Itsekiri Communal Land v. Chief E.A. Sagay), the court warned against the “excessive territorial assumption” of the Itsekiris and reaffirmed that traditional titles do not translate to land ownership beyond ancestral limits. In the same legal spirit, the Supreme Court has in multiple rulings emphasized the right to self-governance, cultural autonomy and indigenous recognition as protected by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

To silence the voice of indigenous people through cartographic deceit and loud propaganda is not just an injustice, it is a violation of both natural law and constitutional integrity.

The policy of the future, if it is to lead Nigeria into peace and unity, must be founded on historical accuracy, not historical robbery. As U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once said, “The greatest threat to liberty is not the lawbreaker but the law manipulator.” And Warri has suffered for too long at the hands of law manipulators disguised as landowners, liers with fake identity.

Let us be clear, no manipulation, no lobbyist, no fake census, no manufactured royal claim can stand before the supremacy of truth. The truth is the supreme court over every forgery and no amount of Itsekiri aggression will silence the ancestral voices that still echo from the banks of the Warri River and Land.

Today, we reaffirm that the lands of Ogbe-Ijoh, Gbaramatu, Isaba, Diebiri and Egbema are not Itsekiri. They are Ijaw. And we will defend this truth with facts, with documents, with court judgments and if needed, with our last breath. Truth has no fear. Only lies panic.

To INEC, we say, the time for submission is over. Release the final ward delineation. Stop allowing the ghost of colonial distortion to rule over a democratic commission. The people demand representation based on reality, not repetition of fraud.

To the Federal Government and the National Security Adviser, do not allow yourselves to be used as tools to validate deception. Nigeria belongs to all, not to any manipulative minority.

To the international community, bear witness to a struggle not for domination but for identity. Not for power, but for dignity. Stand on the side of history, not on the side of false royalty.

The Ijaw nation is not seeking war, we are seeking what is ours. We are not rewriting history, we are reopening it. And when history is opened, it will roar like thunder, the Ijaws were never conquered, never displaced, never ruled by the Olu of Warri.

Let every generation remember, you can manipulate land titles but not ancestral truth. You can twist legal language, but not the lineage of a people. You can silence a people temporarily but you cannot silence their God-given identity.

Let Warri breathe. Let truth prevail.

Signed,
Chief Tiemopere Joshua (President)

Chief Ebikeke T. Goodstime – Secretary

Ijaw Stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency

By: Divine Perezide
Abuja, Nigeria – It was a moment of heartfelt celebration and deep gratitude as the first daughter of Rt. Hon. Joseph Asiaye Alubeze, Miss Preye Glory Joseph Alubeze, was officially called to the Nigerian Bar on Monday, July 8, 2025, in a historic ceremony held at the Nigerian Law School, Abuja.
Miss Preye, who graduated with a First-Class degree in Law from the prestigious Abti-American University, Abuja, was lauded by family, frieds and well-wishers for her outstanding performance, not only during her undergraduate studies but also during Law School programme, where she once again, distinguished herself as a shinning academic star.

In a glowing message of appreciation and pride, Rt. Hon. Joseph Asiayei Alubeze, former Leader of the Burutu Legislative House, expressed very deep and profound gratitude to God Almighty, acknowledging divine favour and guidance throughout his daughter’s academic journey.
“To God Almighty, the Giver of life, wisdom, strength, and all good things, I return all glory, honour, and praise for this crowning moment,” he stated.

He described Glory as a golden daughter whose life have brought nothingbut all round pride and fulfilment to his family, describing her accomplishment as more than a personal achievement, adding that it “a testimony of God’s unfailing grace and divine favour towards him and the entire Alubeze dynasty.”

Rt. Hon. Alubeze praised his daughter’s resilience, discipline, and humility, which he said have served as key pillars of her statling academic success. He further describes her as a beacon of excellence and inspiration to young women across the country.
“Today, you stand not just as a lawyer, but as a trailblazer called, qualified, and favoured,” he said. “Continue to shine your light brighter as you lead the way for more Ijaw girls to follow, my darling daughter.” Alubeze added.

The proud father of a brand new “Barrister-at-the-Law” also used the moment to charge his daughter to uphold truth, justice, and professional integrity in her legal career, praying that her journey ahead be blessed with wisdom, purpose, and lasting impact.
Alubeze seized the moment to also expressed how pleased he was to see the daughter of the Burutu Local Government Council, Chief (Dr.) Julius Takeme, for being among those called to Bar along with his daughter. He congratulated Takeme, the performing Burutu Chairman, who also a proud father of a brand new Lawyer.

Alubeze also thanked High Chief (Barr.) Mike Loyibo, the Traditional Prime Minister of Esuku (Tuomo) Kingdom, a respected political leader of Burutu and a Senior Lawyer who shared the joyous moment with the Takeme and Alubeze families, adding that God Almighty will bless him for blessing the young Lawyers whom he called “his Junior Professional Colleagues.”
Miss Preye Glory Joseph Alubeze now joins the distinguished ranks of Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and her name has quickly risen among young legal minds to watch. Her journey, from academic excellence to professional triumph, stands as an inspiring story for a new generation of Niger Deltan youths determined to rise through diligence, determination, and the grace of God.

Dr. Braduce Angozi, a two-time governorship contender in Delta State, has extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on the occasion of his 62nd birthday anniversary.

Angozi who was a former commissioner of Delta State applauded the governor for the peace and stability in the state.

He further emphasised that the governor had taken infrastructural development of the state to another enviable level, citing numerous bridges and massive road constructions going in the state.

Dr Angozi praised the governor’s commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and progress, noting that under his leadership, strides have been made in various sectors including education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.

The former Chairman of Burutu Local Government Council Dr. Angozi commended the governor’s resilience and determination, pointing out that the governor’s ability to inspire unity and foster collaboration among diverse groups has been instrumental in driving positive change.

He encouraged the governor to remain steadfast in his mission to improve the lives of all Deltans and to work towards a brighter and more prosperous future for the state.

While Dr Angozi acknowledged the several contributions that Governor Oborevwori had made to the development of the state and the improvement of the lives of its citizens, he wished him good health, wisdom, and countless blessings in the year ahead.