News
DELINEATION: “EXERCISE IS CONSTITUTIONAL AND MORAL; NO MORE SUPREMACY, BUT BROTHERLY COEXISTENCE” – IJAW GROUP TUTORS ITSEKIRIS
Warri, Nigeria – July 16, 2025: The Ijaw Stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency have issued a bold and historic statement declaring full support for the ongoing delineation process by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing it as a long-awaited correction to decades of historical distortion, political marginalization, and territorial misrepresentation.
In a strong worded release,the stakeholders challenged the legitimacy of Itsekiri land claims and monarch authority, asserting that the truth of Warri’s founding peoples and rightful landowners can no longer be buried beneath colonial narratives and elite manipulation. Read full release:
“PRESS RELEASE
“Issued by: Ijaw Stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency
“Date: 16 July 2025
“HEADLINE:
“THE LIE IS DEAD, THE LAND SPEAKS: DELINEATION IS HERE TO STAY, AND SO IS THE TRUTH
“TO WHOM MUCH LAND IS GIVEN, MUCH LIES HAVE BEEN TOLD
“For decades, a small ethnic group has wrapped itself in borrowed robes and built castles of influence upon swamps of fiction. The Itsekiris, by a mix of colonial favoritism, media mischief and oil-backed lobbying, have projected themselves as landlords over a territory they neither founded nor truly occupied in majority. They have distorted maps, fabricated history and declared themselves monarchs over a land that was already thriving with Ijaw and Urhobo civilizations before Ginuwa ever arrived at Ijala, an Ijaw town, not an Itsekiri creation.
“But history does not remain silent forever. The ground speaks. The creeks cry out. The people rise. And the truth long suppressed under the boots of colonial policies and oil politics has finally found its voice through facts, maps, judgments, census data and the awakening of ancestral memory.
“Today, we declare without any iota of doubt that the delineation of Warri Federal Constituency is not only constitutional, it is a moral correction, a historical rebalancing and a political rebirth.
“THE TRUTH HAS BEEN UNSEALED: KEY EXPOSÉS
“No Land, No Numbers, No Legitimacy
“Let it be told loud and clear, the Itsekiris have no ancestral claim over the majority of Warri land. From Gbaramatu to Ogbe-Ijoh, Okerenkoko to Isaba, these lands were never under the control of the Olu of Warri. In fact, Colonial Officer M.C. Smart (1933) stated explicitly:
“There is no historical evidence that the Olu or his agents exercised political control over Gbaramatu or the Forcados River areas.” (Intelligence Report, NAI CSO 26/2 27036)
“Census data also exposes the demographic fraud. While the Ijaws and Urhobos number in the hundreds of thousands, Itsekiris barely make up 5% of the population in Warri Federal Constituency. Their loud voice is not from the people, it is from privileged positioning and outside funding.
“The Manufactured Monarchy and the Fake Crown
“Until 1952, the title was simply “Olu of Itsekiri” a modest title rightly confined to a small ethnic domain. But in a colonial act of deception, the name was changed to “Olu of Warri”, creating the illusion of sovereignty over a land never owned.
“The Itsekiris were not the first settlers of Warri Division. Their claims to exclusive ownership are historically baseless.” — Prof. E.J. Alagoa, Niger Delta Oral Traditions and History
“That title change was resisted by Urhobo and Ijaw leaders of the time. Today, we renew that resistance and we demand the immediate reversal of the title back to its truthful form.
“The Ward Delineation: A Verdict of Justice
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after due consideration of population density, indigenous habitation, and administrative justice, has undertaken the constitutional exercise of delineation. The Itsekiris, sensing the exposure of their long-standing fraud, now resort to blackmail, media lobbying and legal stalling.
“But the game is up.
“We affirm that the delineation result must be announced. It is not just a democratic exercise, it is historical reparation.
“It was once said:
“In the past, the man has been first; in the future, the system must be first.” — Frederick W. Taylor
“Falsehood may run for years, but truth walks in one day and takes over the house.” — Ijaw Proverb
“The greatest injustice in the Niger Delta is not oil theft — it is land theft.” — Late Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye
“Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” — Amos 5:24 (Holy Scripture)
“OUR FINAL ADVICE TO THE ITSEKIRIS
“Enough of the media manipulations. Enough of the legal distractions. Enough of clinging to a throne built on quicksand. You cannot hold the majority hostage forever.
“We advise you: accept the truth and let justice reign. Coexistence is possible but not at the cost of false supremacy. You are not landlords. You are not founders. You are, by all historical accounts, tenants who must now learn to live in truth or be remembered for lies.
“CALL TO ACTION
“We call on:
“INEC: Proceed without fear or favour. The delineation must be concluded and gazetted.
“The Presidency and National Assembly: Stand firm for constitutional equity.
The International Community: Monitor the manipulation tactics and support indigenous land rights.
“The Nigerian People: Reject false narratives. Support the voice of history.”
Sign:
Chief Tiemopere Joshua (President)
Chief Ebikeke T. Goodstime (Secretary)
Ijaw Stakeholders
IJAW STAKEHOLDERS OF WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY
As the struggle for the truth and equity intensifies, the Ijaw Stakeholders have urged INEC to act boldly and without fear, while calling on the federal government, international observers, and Nigerian public to support a rebalancing rooted in constitutional fairness nd historical facts. With the tides of history turning, the statement concludes with a passionate appeal: coexistence remains possible-but only on the foundations of truth,not illusion.
By Favour Bibaikefie
Abuja, Nigeria – In a commendable display of appreciation, ‘Gen.’ Dennis Kpaidia, leader of the Tantita Odimodi Unit, has lauded the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro (PhD.), for his unwavering commitment to peacebuilding and leadership development in the Niger Delta.
This follows the commencement of a three-day day intensive training programme on Peacebuilding, Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation, organised by the PAP in collaboration with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja.
The training, held in the Federal Capital Territory, brought together selected youth and community leaders from various communities across the Iger Delta. The initiative forms part of the reintegration phase of the Amnesty Programme, aimed at equipping key stakeholders with tools for the effective leadership, dialogue, and nonviolent conflict resolution in order to forestall imminent intercommunity crisis.
Speaking to IduwiniVoice, Kpaidia expressed profound gratitude to Dr. Otuaro over what he described as a “visionary leadership style that prioritizes the growth and peaceful coexistence of the region.”He noted that such training sessions are vital in deepening participants’ understanding of conflict dynamics and in strengthening local structures for sustainable peace.
“This training has opened our eyes to new methods of resolving disputes peacefully and building consensus in our communities. I thank Chief Dr. Otuaro for investing in our future of the Niger Delta youth and for giving us the tolls to lead rightly.” Kaidia State.
The peacebuilding programme is expected to continue over the next two days, with sessions facilitated by security and conflict resolution experts, mediators, and development professionals from both civil and military backgrounds.
As the region continues its journey towards lasting peace and sustainable development, initiatives like this stand out as evidence of the evolving impact of the Presidential Amnesty Programme under Dr. Otuaro’s stewardship.
News
PAP: Amnesty Boss Partners Nigerian Army, Lauches Leadership, Mediation Training for Niger Delta Peacebuilding
By Divine Perezide
Abuja, Nigeria – July 2025:
In a decisive step towards enhancing leadership effectiveness and deepening peace efforts in the Niger Delta, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, has flagged off a three-day intensive training session in Abuja.
The programme, organised in partnership with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), is taking place at the NARC complex in Asokoro and is tailored to empower key stakeholders from the Niger Delta with strategic peacebuilding.
Themed “Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation, ” the training seeks to develop the knowledge, skills, and Attitudes (KSAs) required for participants to play active roles in conflict management and community-level Mediation. The initiative is expected to strengthen the leadership capacity of participants while promoting sustainable peace and social harmony in the region.
Speaking on the essence of the initiative, officials of the Amnesty Programme noted that the training reflects the renewed focus of Chief Dr. Otuaro’s administration on community empowerment and the the prevention of conflict through dialogue and nonviolent engagement.
“This programme is a vital step in building responsible, proactive leadership within the Niger Delta,” a PAP spokesperson remarked. “It’s about equipping our people not just with skills, but with the mindset to foster peace and drive development.”
The training also underscores the Amnesty Office’s commitment to broadening the scope of post-conflict reintegration efforts beyond economic development by institutionalizing community-driven peace strategies.
Participants included community leaders, youth influences, and stakeholders drawn from various Niger Delta communities who are expected to return home with practical tools to mediate disputes and foster collaboration.
The initiative aligns with PAP’s broader vision to consolidate peace gains and stimulate economic development through a culture of dialogue, leadership accountability, and conflict transformation.
Sponsored:
GbaramatuVoice, a leading award-wining media outlet in the Niger Delta, is set to celebrate a decade of impactful storytelling and journalism with a two-day event to be held on August 27 and 28, 2025, at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. This milestone celebration will include a high-profile Public Lecture and the much-anticipated Niger Delta Night of Honour, both designed to highlight the platform’s dedication to advocating for the Niger Delta development, cultural identity, and social justice.
The Public Lecture on Wednesday, August 27, will kick off at 10:30 am and focus on the theme: “Gaps and Silences in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Economy: Appraisal of Resource Control, Security and Media Dynamics.” This lecture will bring together key stakeholders from various sectors, including government officials, oil and gas industry leaders, international oil companies (IOCs), security experts, diplomats, academics, and media professionals. The goal is to open up an honest dialogue about ongoing challenges in the Niger Delta, specifically around resource control, national integration, environmental justice, and the pivotal role the media plays in these issues.
“We’ve spent ten years covering the stories of oil, conflict, justice, and survival that often go unheard in mainstream narratives,” said the organizers. “This lecture aims to shed light on those silences and bring them to the forefront.”
The Niger Delta Night of Honour, taking place on Thursday, August 28, will follow in the evening, beginning with a red carpet reception at 4:00 pm, and the main ceremony at 5:00 pm. This glamorous event is dedicated to honoring individuals, institutions and cultural figures who have made significant contributions to the progress, peace, and identity of the Niger Delta. The night will feature awards, cultural performances, and special recognitions for those who have shaped the region’s development.
Mr. Jacob Abai, the Publisher and CEO of GbaramatuVoice, emphasized that this anniversary represents more than just a media milestone; it is a reflection of the organization’s purpose-driven journey. “This celebration marks ten years of courage, truth, and culture. We have been a voice, telling stories of resilience and challenging power while inspiring progress in our region,” Mr. Abai stated. “Our mission has always been to amplify the voices of the marginalized and document the rich heritage of the Niger Delta.”
The event will also feature impressive lineup of guest speakers, panelists, award recipients, and entertainers, with further details to be disclosed in the coming weeks. Dignitaries expected to attend include traditional rulers, governors, senators, leaders from oil-producing communities, and key players in diplomacy, civil society, and media development.
Organizers are inviting stakeholders, sponsors, the well-wishers to participate in this historic occasion. For participation, sponsorships, or media partnerships, interested parties can contact 0803 089 1146 or 0814 345 9986, or email info@gbaramatuvoicenews.com
Founded in 2015,GbaramatuVoice has grown into a leading pan-Niger Delta media organization, with a strong presence in print, digital, and television broadcasting. The platform remains committed to bridging the gap between the oil-rich communities of the Niger Delta and the rest of Nigeria, as well as the international community, with a focus on advocacy, cultural identity, and developmental journalism.
Credit: Channels Television of Facebook.