Threat to Resist INEC: Call Ijaw, Urhobo Leaders to Order Now – Ayirimi Emami to President Tinubu

…says INEC acknowledged Itsekiri position on fraudulent coordinates

Chief Ayirimi Emami, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, has called on President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to intervene regarding threats from Ijaw and Urhobo leaders in the Warri Federal Constituency, who vowed to disrupt the 2027 general elections.

The tension stems from a dispute over the implementation of a Supreme Court-ordered fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units in Warri South, Warri North, and Warri South-West local government areas.

Leaders of the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities have warned that they will resist or block the 2027 general elections in the Warri Federal Constituency if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fails to implement the Supreme Court judgment (Suit No. SC/413/2016).

Representing the Itsekiri interests, Emami accused Ijaw and Urhobo groups of attempting to force a fraudulent ward delineation, terming their threats as noise-making by those who “do not own any oil facilities”.

Chief Emami, insisted that the threat to disrupt the conduct of the 2027 in Warri Federal Constiteucy election should be treated as threat to national security, urging security agencies to address the threat.

Led by figures like High Chief Godspower Gbenekama and Olorogun Victor Okumagba, the Ijaw and Urhobo coalition during the press conference last week, argued that the current electoral structure allows “minority rule over the majority” in Warri and that they will no longer stand by while their democratic rights are denied.

But Chief Emami who spoke over the weekend at his residence in Egbokodo, Warri South local government Area of Delta State, during the Ologbotsere Day celebration, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the leaders of the ethnic nationalities to order over alleged plot to cause crisis in Warri ahead the election.

He said that some leaders of Ijaw and Urhobo nations in a recent press conference have threatened to mobilized against INEC over the controversial delineation of Warri Federal Constituency which the electoral umpire has acknowledged as faulty and suspended indefinitely.

The Itsekiri opinion leader lampooned one of the leader of the ethnic group for his diatribe against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the press briefing, saying that it was insulting to attack Mr. President over the Warri delineation issue despite the fact that Ijaws have benefited so much from the federal government.

Chief Emami said, “Itsekiri is not against ward/unit delineation, because it’s supposed to be done at – least every 10 years, but the legal instrument must be followed. They won’t see Itsekiri to kill, to deprive us from participating in the elections.

“They vowed to resist the forthcoming elections, if the flawed delineation report is not released, but they participating in Continuous Voter Registration, CVR being conducted by INEC and aspirants from their ethnic nationalities are consulting ahead of primaries of political parties. We weren’t the ones that took the issue to office of the National Security Adviser, NSA.

“We protested the coordinates deployed in the controversial wards/units delineation and the protests were within our rights.

“The wealth of this nation (oil and gas resources) is in Itsekiri land, we are the ones feeding Delta State. INEC, saw our position and agreed that the coordinates used in the controversial delineation, were incorrect.

“They keep talking about Supreme Court judgement, as regards the wards/ units delineation, but they have refused to obey Supreme Court judgement, regarding name of the community, where Nigerian Maritime University is situated. As affirmed by the Supreme Court, the community hosting the Nigerian Maritime University is Okerenghigho, not Okerenkoko as they call it, against the Supreme Court judgement.

“Supreme Court judgment didn’t tell you to take Itsekiri communities and make it yours. All of them talking today from the other side, went to Ogidigben Grammar School, that speaks of our population. Population doesn’t mean the ethnic nationality that owns a community, are the only people living in such community.

“You came to Warri to deceive our Urhobo brothers in Okere, to get them to join you in your fight against Itsekiris. Victor Okumagba, became Councillor in Warri South, courtesy of Itsekiri. We are not defending INEC, but we will commend them if they are right and criticise them if they are wrong.

“We, Itsekiris, will defend our homeland. We heard Chief (Dr.) Godspower Gbenekama making derogatory remarks about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the press briefing, despite benefiting so much from the federal government.

“Itsekiri is not against the Ijaw Nation, our issue is with the Gbaramatu Ijaws, threatening the federal government, INEC and us.

“The three tribes (Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo) had signed undertaking for peace in Warri Federal Constituency, so anyone threatening the peace accord, should be called to question by the security agencies. Gbenekama had the effrontery to address the President as President Emilokon.

“Other Ijaws are with the President, except the Gbaramatu Ijaws. We have known that from time, yet they have been the greatest beneficiaries of this president, Itsekiri is prepared for the forthcoming elections.”

“The Ijaws took Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC to court, saying our communities are not in the buffer zone. The affected communities and I, decided to join the suit, but court declined our request. We are going to appeal the court decision, nobody will take our land.”

Speaking in thesame vien, the Olorogun of Warri Kingdom, Chief Michael Odeli, who spoke on the sidelines of the Ologbotsere Day celebration, said: “It is very sad to see the Ijaws of Gbaramatu biting the finger that fed them.

“The Ijaws of Gbaramatu, have been bitter so much and it beats my imagination how they come out in the public, to use languages that are so insulting to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I want to say with all due respect that the young man Chief (Dr.) Godspower Gbenekama should be called to order, for calling the President ‘President Emilokun’ it is an insult to the whole nation.”

Public Relations Officer of Itsekiri National Youth Council, INYC, Hon. Tuoyo Ebigbeyi, on his part, told newsmen: “As a nation, we have decided to endorse those that are square peg, that would be put in square hole.”

Chief Emami urged the Federal Government to maintain stability and not bow to pressure from the Ijaw/Urhobo coalition, which has also been involved in a contentious dispute over oil-rich areas.

INEC had stated that the process of fresh delineation is ongoing but has faced challenges and complaints from different ethnic groups.