…Says statements excluding Urhobo ethnic nationality from Delta South are misleading, mischievous, provocative
By Pleasure Onohwakpo
The All Progressives Congress, APC members who are indigenes of Urhobo in Warri South Local Government Area have reacted to recent statements by some members of the party to the effect that Delta South Senatorial District is made up of only the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko.
The Urhobo APC members group, reacting, described the purported statements as inaccurate, misleading and provocative, adding that Delta South Senatorial District is made up of 4 (four) indigenous tribes namely, Ijaw, Isoko, Itsekiri and Urhobo.
The group further averred that nothing could be further from the truth on the matter, stating that the posture of those who made the alleged exclusionist statement, were not only criminal falsehood and reprehensible, but insulting.
The statement highlighted that the Urhobo indigenous tribe of Delta South Senatorial District, constitute two legally recognized kingdoms which are the Okere Urhobo Kingdom of Warri South Local Government Area with their traditional ruler, the Orosuen of Okere Urhobo Kingdom and Agbarha Warri Kingdom of Warri South Local Government Area with their traditional ruler the Ovie of Agbarha Warri.
The group also stated that the Urhobo indigenous tribes in Delta South particularly in Warri South Local Government Area, constitute 6 out of the 12 INEC wards in the Council Area, adding it is recognized as Warri South Constituency 2 and it is so represented in the State House Assembly.
The statement which was signed by Hon. Gabriel Okandeji, Amb. Obruche Obodo, Comrade Benjamin Eboh, Hon. Marcus Akuruli and Mr. Ejiro Odiete on behalf of Urhobo APC Members who are Indigenes of Okere Urhobo and Agbarha Warri Kingdoms comprising 6 homogenous INEC delineated Electoral Wards in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta South Senatorial District, warned that they will not tolerate further misrepresentation of facts by some members of the party, adding that the current House of Assembly member representing Warri South Constituency 2, Hon. Benson Obire is an Urhobo indigene from the area.
The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to very inaccurate and provocative statements from certain elements in Delta APC who have been posturing that Delta South Senatorial District is made up of only 3 (three) tribes namely Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri.
“Nothing can be further from the truth on this. This is criminal falsehood which is highly reprehensible. Delta South Senatorial District is made up of 4 (four) indigenous tribes namely, Ijaw, Isoko, Itsekiri and Urhobo. It is insulting and indeed criminal for anybody in our party APC or elsewhere, to state otherwise.
“The Urhobos of Delta South Senatorial District occupy two legally recognized indigenous and independent kingdoms. These are the Okere Urhobo Kingdom of Warri South Local Government Area with their traditional ruler, the Orosuen of Okere Urhobo Kingdom and Agbarha Warri Kingdom of Warri South Local Government Area with their traditional ruler the Ovie of Agbarha Warri.”
It further stated that “the two Urhobo Kingdoms in Warri have six Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) delineated wards out of the total 12 INEC wards in Warri South Local Government Area. The indigenous Urhobos in the Okere Urhobo and Agbarha Warri Kingdoms with 6 INEC Wards in Warri South Local Government Area have the same rights, and privileges accruable to the Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri indigenes in the Delta South Senatorial District. The Urhobos in Delta South Senatorial District are equally entitled to political appointments due to the Senatorial District.
“It is, therefore, misleading, mischievous and provocative for any person(s) to try to convey the impression that there are only three ethnic groups in Delta South Senatorial District.
“We have also noticed statements by certain persons in the APC who are trying to equate what they call 3i’s association (made up of Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri) as equal and representative of the entire Delta South Senatorial District. This is outright falsehood and cannot be tolerated in a decent society.
“This posturing by these persons is misleading, mischievious and provocative with the sole aim of creating a false impression that there are only three indigenous tribes in Delta South Senatorial District. As stated above, Delta South Senatorial District is made up of 4 (four) indigenous tribes – Ijaw, Isoko, Itsekiri and Urhobo – with equal political and economic rights, as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.
“We will not tolerate a situation where persons in our party continue to make statements and engage in activities towards giving a false impression that Delta South Senatorial District is made up of 3 indigenous tribes of Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri tribes only. This is highly provocative and will not be tolerated.
“The Urhobos of Warri have always represented their Constituency (comprising the 6 wards) which is Warri South Constituency 2 in the Delta State House of Assembly from inception to date.
“The current APC elected Member representing our Warri South Constituency 2 in the Delta State House of Assembly is an Urhobo indigene in the person of Chief Hon. Benson Obire. He is one of the only 2 Elected APC House of Assembly Members in the Delta State House of Assembly out of the 11 seats available in Delta South Senatorial District. The other 9 seats in the Senatorial District are currently occupied by PDP. We won the elections in our Constituency – Warri South Constituency 2 and we have always delivered.”
