Warri Ward Delineation Crisis: ISOPLOT Fires Back at INYA, Says ‘You’ve Lost Your Voice to Speak for Isoko Youths’

The group, Isoko Political Youth Leaders Of Thought (ISOPLOT), which recently voiced their concern over the Warri ward delineation crisis on Monday, said that they would not be deterred by attacks from opponents, saying that their main concern is perpetual preservation of the political, cultural, economic and social dignity of Isoko nation.

The group which vowed to uphold ‘Isoko First in all things’, condemned the outburst of ‘factional’ Isoko youth group, Isoko National Youth Assembly (INYA), masquerading as the umbrella body of Isoko Youths worldwide.

INYA had condemned the position of (ISOPLOT on the Warri Ward delineation crisis as well as the call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to suspend or cancel outrightly the exercise especially “since the exercise has shown capacity for total distortion of the peace in Warri metropolis, Delta South Senatorial District and the Niger Delta”.

In response to the outburst, ISOPLOT, in a statement on Monday, signed by its Chairman, Comrade Daniel Omoraro and Secretary, Comrade Henry Oviomaigho, said it was not surprised about the outburst which is obviously intended to pacify their paymasters.

The statement reads; “Truth is, the INYA has lost bite, lost integrity, lost touch with the realities of Isoko Nation and have become an appendage of external funding and manipulation. If not, how do they explain the disgraceful event of the commissioning of Isoko Youth House, where someone from another ethnic nationality was invited to chair and commission the project, despite the number of elder statesmen, billionaires, politicians and leaders from different walks of life, basically dotting every inch of Isoko Nation?

“INYA has outlived its usefulness in Isoko land. It has become a private entity with designs for sabotage of Isoko Nation for pecuniary interest of the few who are running it.

“Despite the tension in the political system, and the obvious fact that Isoko nation is being gradually relegated, the INYA has not deemed it necessary to bat an eyelid. All of a sudden, they are issuing a statement to proffer solutions to problems which they have refused to acknowledge ab initio.

“Let INYA issue a statement henceforth, to address the April 25, 2025 press release by the Delta Ijaw Progressives Worldwide, titled, “UNITING FOR CHANGE: A CALL FOR WARRI OR BURUTU FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY TO REPRESENT DELTA SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT IN 2027”, especially since an Isoko Man, Senator Joel Thomas Onowakpo, occupies the seat for barely two years in office, after Ijaw Nation had it for over 20 years in a row.

“Let INYA bury its head in shame and comment no more, since they cannot protect the interest of Isoko Nation. They should sit quiet, continue with the pitiable enjoyment of the crumbs from their pay masters and stop disgracing Isoko Nation.
We are very mindful of the longstanding issue of a second constituency for Isoko North Local Government Area and we are well aware of efforts by our lawmakers to see it through; we commend them too.

“However, it is distasteful that INYA who has been silent on the issue, suddenly sees our statement as an opportunity to comment on a matter they would have long addressed if it was really important to them.

“The year 2031, is critical to the survival of the political standpoint and viability of Isoko Nation and as a group, ISOPLOT will not allow any person or entity to diminish our chances.

“As a Pan Isoko political group, we reiterate that there are deliberate efforts by certain individuals to undermine the long-standing ethnic balance among the three founding nationalities of the Delta South Senatorial district, namely, Isoko, Itsekiri and Ijaw.

“We foresee the endpoint of the current political maneuverings as aimed at elevating one ethnic group over the others — particularly to gain numerical and strategic advantage ahead of the 2031 elections, when the governorship seat of Delta State would have taken a rotational course back to Delta South.

“ISOPLOT see these moves as attempts to weaken the political position of the Itsekiri blocks, thereby isolating them politically and diminishing their voice in key decisions affecting the region. We understand that this invariably diminishes our position and stake as Isokos. This move is aimed at conquest and Isoko is most affected. If this permutation scales through, the level play field that could give room for Isokos to produce a Governor becomes jeopardized.

“As a group, we hinge our drive strongly on this quote by prominent German pastor Martin Niemöller which says, “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.” WHO WILL BE NEXT AFTER ITSEKIRI IS DECIMATED?

“We hereby call again on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on the offices of the National Security Adviser as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to suspend till further notice, or cancel outrightly, the ongoing Ward delineation exercise in Warri metropolis as it has show capacity to breed restiveness in the region.

“We are also calling on Leaders of Isoko Nation to unite now and fast. We cannot afford to sit on the sidelines, rather we must be decisive, as the road before us remains narrow and rugged. Let us keep the spirit of Isoko alive. Let us think Isoko First!!!”, the statement added.