By Austin Ogwuda
AN Itsekiri community leader, Oritseweyinmi Emmanuel Aginejuone has taken the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to the cleaners for warning the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic groups to stop referring to each other as customary tenants, describing the warning as bunkum.
Recall that the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda sought the help of the Assistant Inspector of Police (AIG) Zone 5 Benin AIG Salman-Dogo Garba to step in immediately following bickerings among the three ethic groups – Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo over the recent ward delineation exercise in Warri by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
As a result of the development and in a bid to nip the escalation in the bud, AIG Salman-Dogo Garba responded swiftly by summoning an emergency security meeting last Friday comprising of key stakeholders from the three ethic groups held at his office.
He explained that the meeting was at the instance of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun stating that there is no difference between the Ijaws, Itsekiris and the Urhobos and warned them all to avoid any issues that will cause a repeat of the 2003/2004 crisis.
*Delta Police CP Olufemi Abaniwonda
The Police boss appealed to the stakeholders on the need for them to control their youths and refrain them from making inciting and inflammatory statements, especially on the social media, reiterating that when a life is lost, nobody can bring it back.
In conclusion, he warned that any further breakdown of law and order will not be tolerated, and the trend of name-calling and social media protest will not be tolerated henceforth, stressing that anyone caught will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
“No ethnic group”, he went on, “should refer to another ethnic group as CUSTOMARY TENANTS”, he further stated.
However, in defiance to that stern warning, this audacious Itsekiri community leader, Emmanuel Aginejuone who spoke to Fresh Angle International, weekend, said that neither the Federal government, the Inspector General of Police or the AIG, has right to speak on the “customary tenancy agreement” already settled by competent courts.
He cited relevant court cases in support of his position pointing out that the warning by AIG Salman-Dogo Garba purportedly on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police was tantamount to contempt of court.
Said he, “There have been a trending publication that the AIG Zone 5 Headquarters, Benin City, said Itsekiris should not call Ijaws or Urhobos living in Warri Federal Constituency, tenants. The AIG, has no such power, not even the IGP or Federal government.
“The issue of landlord and tenancy between Itsekiri versus Ijaw and Urhobo, has since been settled in court.”
“I challenge the AIG to show me where the 1999 Constitution, as Amended , gave him the right to speak on a matter the highest court in the country, had made pronouncement on. Even if the matter was still in court, he has no Constitutional right to speak on it”, the Itsekiri leader insisted.
*Credit Fresh Angle International
*Behold the audacious Itsekiri leader, Emmanuel Aginejuone
