By Austin Ogwuda
A recent declaration purportedly made by the Itsekiri people under the aegis of Itsekiri socio-cultural organisation, Movement for the Protection of Iwere Homeland, Development and History (MPIHDH) worldwide, to the effect that the Agbarha Urhobo were tenants to the Olu of Warri has stirred the hornet’s nest.
It has regenerated the age-long controversy brewing over which ethnic nationality is the real landlord of oil rich city of Warri in Delta State, Nigeria as both the Itsekiri and the Urhobo nations are laying claim to the commercial city.
In a sharp reaction, President of Warri Agbarha Diaspora Network, Lennox Egavoja Gold, faulted that claim by his Itsekiri brothers, stating that they (Urhobo) were the landlords, not tenants, of Warri as claimed.
Gold warned MPIHDH to desist from misinforming the public, describing their claim as fictitious, and insisted that they would not fold their hands and watch Itsekiri people make fictitious claims.
He made reference to several Commissions of Inquiries including Hon Justice Nnemeka Agu, Hon Hassan Idoko and Theophilus Danjuma which, according to him, were said to have resolved the lingering Warri crisis that spanned over 100 years.
Gold in a letter entitled: ‘Itsekiri False Alarm on Land Revalidation by Agbarha Warri’ People’ and addressed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, said Agbarha Warri Urhobo people cannot revalidate what was theirs, warning that claims by Itsekiri could trigger another ethic crisis if not nipped in the bud.
According to Gold, “The Itsekiris referred to Agbassa (which is the ancestral headquarters of Agbarha Warri Kingdom) as Obomale, meaning Juju town. However, the question we should ask ourselves is, is it not the Agbassa people that owns the Juju? And this town is in the heart of the Warri metropolis.
“However, we challenge the Itsekiri people to publish the content or paragraph of the judgment of the court that made the Agbarha Warri Kingdom a customary tenant to the Olu of Warri.
“A Warri High Court gave a favourable judgment to Okere-Urhobo in suit number W/48/68 between Olu of Warri & others and Daniel Okumagba who represented Okere-Urhobo and the said judgment was affirmed by the Supreme Court.
“Besides, the Olu Palace belonged to the Ighogbadu, Oki and Olodi families of the Okere-Urhobo kingdom.
“We challenge the Itsekiri people to mention any prominent Itsekiri leader (dead or alive) that can trace his or her ancestry to Warri metropolis. The answer is none! But Agbarha people will do. The land belongs to us, so we are not going to revalidate what belongs to us”, he sternly warned.
Credit: Daily Sun