The Urhobos from Warri have strongly warned the Itsekiri to stop their clandestine move to snatch two political wards belonging to the Urhobos in Warri South local government area and their evil plan to hijack constituency II, in the forth coming election for the State House of Assembly in 2015.
The Urhobos from Warri have strongly warned the Itsekiri to stop their clandestine move to snatch two political wards belonging to the Urhobos in Warri South local government area and their evil plan to hijack constituency II, in the forth coming election for the State House of Assembly in 2015.
Olorogun Victor Akpor Okumagba, who gave this warning during a press conference in Warri last Thursday said that, while the political situation in Warri South remained lopsided, the situation in Warri North and Warri South-west are evenly alternated between the Itsekiris and the Ijaws on council chairman, secretary and majority leader of the Legislative Arm of the Council.
Olorogun Okumagba expressed disappointment over the orchestrated arrangement in which the Itsekiris are to take over some Urhobos’ wards in Warri metropolis, with disregard to the well laid down political structure by former Governor James Ibori.
According to him ‘‘This grand preparation involved brazen attempt to push Urhobos of Warri out of Peoples Democratic Party (P.D.P) by uncalled for incursions and take over of some Urhobos’ wards, where the wards executives were changed from the original nominated and elected officers in Okere, Igbudu, Bowen and Ogunu/Okorode wards. This deliberate affront will be resisted at all levels .Meanwhile, we will remain calm in order to promote the peace, harmony and equality we currently enjoy in Warri. We advice that the leadership of (PDP) should urgently step in before it leads to an uncontrollable situation,’’ he added.
He expressed dismay that all efforts to get the Delta State government intervention to put an end to the deliberate plan to take over Igbudu and Bowen wards that are by right, Urhobos’, yielded no result; adding that the act of encroachment started immediately His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan took over from his predecessor, Chief James Ibori.
‘‘Since the creation of Warri South Local Government Area, only the Itsekiris have been occupying the Chairmanship position till date including caretaker/transition committees with exception of Chief Peter Agiri who was Vice Chairman to Chief Authur Diden, who served for eleven months as Chairman following the death of Chief Authur Diden, who was duly elected in 2003 .Also, is the Peoples Democratic Party chairmanship position, which the Itsekiris have taken as their birthright since the formation of the PDP in 1998 till date, whereas the Itsekiris are minority in Warri South local government.”
He lamented that the Urhobo political history in Warri South Local Government Area has been repleted with experiences of marginalization and oppression by the Itsekiris, stressing that this must stop.
Hon. Okumagba appealed to the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to maintain the peaceful political structure put in place in Warri South by the past Administration from the National to the State, that has brought the enduring peace we all are enjoying today in Warri South, including the Governor, while urging him to immortalize and strengthen as well institutionalize equality and social justice as the basic criteria for the conduct of affairs in a society
He disclosed that Urhobos from Warri protested to the PDP secretariat in Asaba on 10th January 2013 over the gross marginalization of Urhobo people, based on facts and they have challenged the Itsekiri politicians to a debate on the content of the protest letter of 10th January 2013.
In his words ‘‘The Itsekiri politicians should stop the use of threat and provocative language to intimidate the Urhobos of Warri South, as it is cruel, timid, violence-prone and unacceptable. .Urhobo people will not succumb to intimidation of the Itsekiris . We are distinct people .It is by providence we are here with the Itsekiris and nobody can push us out. They (Itsekiris) should be the one to leave the Local Government. Any attempt by the Itsekiris to disorganize the political arrangement set up by James Ibori, will be fully resisted ’’
Hon. Okumagba sadly noted that Dr. Joseph Otumara, Delta State Commissioner for Health confessed that it was Governor Uduaghan that instructed him to alter the recent Urhobo caretaker committee list in Warri South, sent to the Governor and replace same with Itsekiri names.
‘‘Urhobos of Warri South will not allow the Itsekiris to have PDP party chairman and the council chairman at the same time. We are resisting this arrangement and practice. They don’t practice it in Warri North and Warri South-West. It is the stand of Urhobos of Warri South that our rights and privileges should be given to us as a matter of right, rather than preferential consideration’’ he added.
Source: Urhobotimes