The Urhobo Youth Leaders Association has urged the Itsekiri people in Delta State to cease their campaign of calumny against Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and focus instead on rectifying their distorted history.
In a statement issued in response to allegations made by a purported anonymous group in one of the online news platforms, the Urhobo Youth Leaders Association, in a statement by Olorogun Samuel Oghotomo, President, and Olorogun Dr. Austin Atiti, Secretary, emphasized that the Itsekiris should acknowledge that it was the government of the late Obafemi Awolowo of the Western Region, under the control of the Action Group, that renamed the Olu of Itsekiri to the Olu of Warri with the aim of asserting control over the Warri Province.
The statement further clarified that the Urhobos, as the original owners of Warri, swiftly sought the support of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, affiliated with the NCNC, to change the regional name to Delta Province.
It was also emphasized that the Itsekiris do not have land in Warri Township, contrary to what has been propagated through misinformation and falsehoods to the world.
To dispel any doubts, the land currently housing the Olu of Warri palace was leased from the Urhobos in the Supreme Court judgment, in a case of ownership of Warri between late Chief Daniel Okumagba versus Itekiri.
“How can a king buy a land for his palace from a tribe he doesn’t rule? Facts are available, moreover, the two royal seats (kings) in Warri have been in existence years before the swearing in of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as Governor of Delta state, so it’s Itsekiris that should be cautioned by Tinubu for lies and pull him down syndrome and politics of calumny and not the Governor of Delta State.
“If the Itsekiri feels uncomfortable living peacefully with their landlord, they are free to join Ondo State as their Yoruba brothers for us to have peace in Delta State”.
On the allegations of delineation to depopulate Itsekiris in Warri South Local Government Area, it’s a known fact in the world that delineation of wards and constituencies are based on population and other factors.
“Every sane person living in Delta and Nigeria at large knows that the population of the Urhobo people who are indigenes and residents of Warri South Local Government Area are far more than the Itsekiris but yet they (Itsekiris) have more wards.
“The abnormalities will be corrected by INEC who now know the truth, no amount of campaign of calumny can stop it.
“The Supreme Court judgment on ownership of Warri is in the public domain. We call on Yoruba leaders of Ondo State to call these dissidents Pan- Yoruba group with fictitious name to stop cheep blackmail on Governor Oborevwori and causing acrimony between ethnic nationalities in Delta State”, it added.
