The Igba of Warri, Chief Rita Lori Ogbebor, has issued an urgent appeal to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the escalating crisis in Warri, Delta State, involving the Itsekiri, Urhobo, and Ijaw communities. Speaking on Friday in Lagos, Ogbebor warned that without immediate action, the conflict could escalate into a full-blown war, potentially leading to the annihilation of the Itsekiri people from their ancestral homeland.
Call for Federal Intervention
Ogbebor emphasized that the crisis is a serious issue requiring urgent attention from all stakeholders, particularly the Federal Government and the United Nations. She drew parallels to the 1997 crisis, which resulted in the deaths of many Itsekiri individuals in Warri. “Genocide is a problem that politicians have generated, and it is destroying our land. They find it easy to destroy, and they want to do the same thing in Delta State, the economic hub of the country,” she stated.
Historical Context and Political Ambitions
According to Ogbebor, the long-standing tensions among the Urhobo, Ijaw, and Itsekiri have been exacerbated by political ambitions. She described Warri as the economic hub of Delta State, where the Itsekiri have traditionally been liberal and accommodating. “It is a place where everybody can settle because the Itsekiri are very liberal,” she noted.
Ogbebor raised the alarm to the world, urging President Tinubu and all Nigerians to recognize the plight of the Itsekiri. “There is a limit to everything in life. We have been suffering. Everybody knows how much they are fighting. But for two people to come together and announce to the whole world that they are together to fight the Itsekiri, I think it is a shame. I am calling on the Nigerian government to give us protection,” she said.
Demand for Warri State
Ogbebor also demanded the creation of Warri State, arguing that the region meets all conditions for statehood. “It is very possible. Warri meets the conditions required for state creation. There are a lot of smaller nations in the world, smaller than Itsekiri, but they are sovereign nations. The most important thing is that we must be able to look after ourselves. And Warri is viable,” she explained.
Land Disputes and Judicial Rulings
She further called for the implementation and enforcement of a judgment declaring that all non-Itsekiri residents in Warri are settlers. “If you are not an Itsekiri man, you are a settler. In 1997, our local government was taken from where the government had earmarked it to Ogbe Ijaw. We want it to be taken back. That is one aspect. The other aspect is that there was a judgment given in Okere, and that judgment gave Urhobo over 200 acres of land. They do not have more than that, but they have gone beyond that. They must go back to what the judgment said,” Ogbebor concluded.
