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.
News
GOV OBOREWORI BOOSTS TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS WITH 65 LAND CRUISERS TO STRENGTHEN GRASSROOTS PEACE
By: Divine Perezide
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, has handed over 65 brand new Toyota Land Cruisers to traditional rulers across the state in a move aimed at strengthening grassroots governance, peacebuilding, and rural security coordination.
Presenting the vehicles in Asaba, the state government said the gesture reflects the administration’s recognition of the strategic role traditional institutions play in maintaining social stability, mediating communal disputes, and fostering collaboration between communities and government agencies.
The governor described traditional rulers as indispensable partners in sustaining harmony in rural areas, noting that enhanced mobility would enable quicker engagement with communities, faster response to emerging tensions, and closer cooperation with security operatives.
“This intervention is part of our people-centered leadership approach. It is a deliberate effort to build lasting peace and sustain the achievements of our MORE Agenda,” Governor Oborevwori stated, emphasizing that development thrives only in an atmosphere of peace.
Government officials explained that the vehicles would improve accessibility across difficult terrains, enable traditional leaders to attend to community matters more efficiently, and reinforce the interface between grassroots institutions and the state.
Stakeholders have commended the initiative as timely, especially as many rural communities rely heavily on traditional institutions for conflict resolution, cultural administration, and early warning mechanisms in times of tension.
With the distribution of the Land Cruisers, the Oborevwori administration says it remains committed to deepening rural engagement, strengthening local leadership structures, and advancing its peace-building framework across Delta State.
IduwiniVoice
By: Derick Peretengboro
Port Harcourt, 12 January 2026 — A Reconciliation Committee appointed by the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has appealed to political actors in Rivers State to end the ongoing crisis that has deeply affected governance and public confidence in the oil-rich state.
Headed by Chief Godwin Kanu Agabi, SAN, CON, the Committee was inaugurated on 12th January 2026 to “explore ways of bringing the escalating political crisis in Rivers State to an end,” a crisis, the Committee noted, that “has persisted for too long.”
In a statement at the inauguration, Chief Agabi said the Committee was privileged to serve and expressed gratitude to God and PANDEF leadership, particularly Ambassador Godknows Igali, Chairman of PANDEF’s Board of Trustees, and His Royal Majesty, King Alfred Papapraye Diete Spiff, former Governor of Rivers State and Amayanabo of Twon Brass. The statement described Sir Diete Spiff as “a man whose commitment to the South-South and the nation as a whole has never been in doubt,” adding that “it is the sacrifices of men like him that bequeathed the States of the South-South to the people of that area.”
Highlighting the gravity of the state’s political stand-off, the Committee warned that continuing conflict could erode confidence in the political actors’ commitment to the “interest of the people of Rivers State and of the nation.”
Using a local proverb to caution against self-destructive disputes, the statement urged caution: “Let the parties involved not be as the Clam and the Oyster … The fisherman picked them up, took them home and made a nice fine meal of Clam and Oyster. May it not be with Rivers State as it was with the Clam and the Oyster.”
Chief Agabi expressed optimism that the crisis could be resolved without external intervention, arguing that “the parties to this dispute are one people who began as one” and urging humility: “If they have now offended one another, they must be humble enough to apologize and to forgive. It is in forgiving that true greatness can be found.”
The Committee called for goodwill and prayer, countering the often-held view that religion has no place in politics. The statement read: “The misconception that God has no place in our politics has harmed and continues to harm the nation … Whether we are governors or ministers or legislators … it is to God that we owe our appointments and promotions.”
On the key figures involved in the crisis, Chief Agabi spoke personally of both the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, His Excellency Nyesom Wike, and the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Governor Fubara, saying: “The Minister … is my friend. He is my benefactor.… The mighty hand of God is upon him. That great Hand demands that he should lead this reconciliation … I trust [Governor Fubara] to respect that bond.”
The Committee also extended respect to members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, praying for “a change of heart on their part” and urging them that “in forgiving the Governor whatever wrongs he has committed … they will demonstrate … restraint, … public spirit and … maturity.”
Concluding its charge, the Committee emphasized that it was not a judicial body, but an appeal for unity: “This Committee is not appointed to sit in judgment … Our duty is to appeal to the parties to be reconciled with one another… We appeal to the parties to embrace reconciliation… Sacrifices are called for. Make them and let there be peace.”
By: Divine Perezide
Warri, Delta State — Residents of the Warri Federal Constituency and surrounding environment are set to witness the public presentation of a new book titled “Warri Federal Constituency Delineation: Itsekiri & the Challenge of Sustaining the Burden of Lies”, authored by M. Keme.
The event, being organized by Niger Delta Scholars on behalf of stakeholders in the constituency, is scheduled to take place on Friday, January 23rd, 2026, at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre, Warri, with proceedings commencing at 11:00am.
According to the organizers, the book interrogates historical and contemporary issues surrounding the delineation of Warri Federal Constituency, with particular focus on the Itsekiri ethnic group and the socio-political narratives that have shaped representation over the years.
The public presentation will be chaired by Professor Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), who is expected to lend scholarly insight into the relevance of the publication to ongoing debates in Niger Delta politics.
The book will be formally reviewed by noted academic Professor Benedict Binebai, providing an evaluative perspective on the text and its contributions to regional political discourse.
The organizers have issued an open invitation to scholars, political leaders, community stakeholders, and the general public to attend the presentation ceremony. Enquiries and confirmations can be directed to the official RSVP line: 08023865232.
The forthcoming launch is anticipated to spark renewed intellectual and civic engagement on constituency delineation, ethnic relations, and democratic representation in the Niger Delta.