Ogbe-Ijoh Leaders Assert Historical And Legal Rights In Warri South LGA, Hail INEC’s Wards Delineation

Ogbe-Ijoh (Ijaw) people have asserted their historical and legal rights in Warri South local government area of Delta state in response to protests from the Itsekiri people concerning the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) ward delineation proposal for the Warri South LGA.

Addressing a press conference held at the Ogbokone townhall in Warri South, community leaders, including Hon. Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, Chief M. Keme, and Comrade Moses Fiyebor, emphasized their historical and legal claim to representation in Warri South Council.

Since INEC’s fieldwork report on April 4, which proposed new electoral boundaries, the Ogbe-Ijoh people said that they had observed ongoing protests from the Itsekiri and their supporters who argue that the Ogbe-Ijoh should be excluded from Warri South.

Reading the press conference statement Oweikpodor, countered the Itsekiiri claims by referencing previous INEC stakeholders’ meetings which recognized the integral role of Ogbe-Ijoh within the local government structure.

Oweikpodor stressed that the Ogbe-Ijoh have been part of Warri South since its inception, asserting, “Our community has a long-standing history and rightful claim to representation… the recent protests seem to undermine that.”

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He referred to a Supreme Court ruling from December 2022, which supports revisiting electoral delineations to guarantee fair representation.

In their statement, the leaders maintained that Ogbe-Ijoh is historically recognized as the first settlement in Warri Urban, with their presence documented since the formation of the Warri Urban District Council in 1955, which included Ogbe-Ijoh alongside sections of Urhobo and Itsekiri populations.

To counter misinformation from the Itsekiris, they noted that traditional laws and rulings had consistently delineated authority and land ownership between the two communities, asserting that Ogbe-Ijoh lands were never intended to fall under Itsekiri claims.

They asserted; “For historical purposes and to educate younger Itsekiri people who do not know the founding history of Warri, Ogbe-Ijoh is recorded as the first settlement in the present Warri Urban along the Ogbe-Ijoh-Warri River (otherwise known as the Warri anchorage) in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

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“Indeed, the present Warri started from Ogbe-Ijoh. In 1955, when the first local administrative structure was established and electoral delineation done in Warri Urban, the Ogbe-Ijoh (Ijaw) people were included in the Warri Urban District Council together with a section of Urhobo and Itsekiri as defined by Western Region Laws of Nigeria No 177 of 1955.

“The said law created four autonomous electoral wards for the Ijaw people of Ogbe-Ijoh, which were– Alders town B3, Ogbe-Ijoh Ward C1, Ogbe-Ijoh Ward C2 and Government Area F1.

“This structure with elected Ogbe-Ijoh Councillors remained operational till sometime in 1976, when Olusegun Obasanjo’s Military Government introduced local Government reforms giving birth to the present local Government structure. The defunct Warri Urban District Council is today known as the Warri South Local Government Council.

“We wish to state further that, contrary to the false impression created by the Itsekiris, the Ijaw areas have always been separated from the Itsekiri areas in Warri Urban. It is for this reason that, the Chiefs Law of 1957, CAP 19, provides that, the authority of the Itsekiri monarch, the Olu of Warri excludes Ogbe-Ijoh Areas. The 1979 Bendel State Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict, B.S.L.N 44, described the Amaokosu of Ogbe-Ijoh as the prescribed authority of Ogbe-Ijoh lands and people in Warri metropolis. This meant that all the lands of the Ijaw of Ogbe-Ijoh were excluded from claims by the Itsekiri people.

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While commending INEC for being able to commence the delineation process despite series of litigation against the commission, they called on the electoral umpire to ensure that the current delineation reflect the historical boundaries and ensure that “our community receives adequate representation in the Warri South LGA,” the leaders urged.

“The Ogbe-Ijoh people state that their areas should have been delineated into at least five homogenous electoral wards. If the Ogbe-Ijoh people had four electoral wards as far back as 1955, it is only fair for the number to be increased decades after.

“We therefore call for the creation of more electoral wards for Ijaws in Warri Urban and also urge the Independent National Electoral Commission to disregard frivolous protests against the delineation exercise in Warri South LGA by the Itsekiris”.

Meanwhile, INEC has, in a statement by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, stated that contrary to speculations, it was yet to take a final decision on the delineation of wards in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State.

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Olumekun, appealed to all stakeholders in the constituency to refrain from engaging in any activity capable of threatening the peace and security of the area.

The spokesperson assured that the commission would continue to operate based on fairness, equity, the rule of law and in full consultation with all stakeholders.

The Ogbe-Ijoh people, however, reiterated their commendation to INEC for initiating the delineation process despite legal challenges and urged the commission to ensure that the current delineation reflects historical boundaries, advocating for adequate representation for the Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South.

They argued for the creation of more electoral wards and an additional state constituency for the Ijaws in Warri South, emphasizing that representation should be proportional to the demographics of the area.

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The Ogbe-Ijoh community expressed their determination to engage with all ethnic groups in Warri while advocating for their rights and representation.