By Ambrose Ologide
Foremost socio cultural Agbarha association, Agbarha Warri League has stated that Governor Sheriff Francis Oborevwori was innocent of the accusations of sponsorship of installation of Urhobo traditional rulers in Warri and conniving with INEC against the Itsekiris in the on going delineation of electoral wards in Warri Federal Constituency levied against him by Odua Nationalist Coalition titled ‘ Pan – Yoruba Group Asks Tinubu Govt To Caution Delta State Governor Against Itsekiri People, Says Yoruba, Itsekiris Are Brothers authored by Odua Nationalists Coalition published online by Sahara Reporters of 21st July, 2024
Agbarha Warri League in its statement signed by Joseph Ugbejevun and Edirin Okere ( President and Secretary respectively) made available to newsmen in Warri on Wednesday 24th July, 2024 stated among other things that our attention has been drawn to the above publication .
“Ordinarily, we would not have debased ourselves to reply to the unwarranted and inconsequential outbursts but when people peddle stories of ignorance that are not corrected, the undiscerning public may swallow it as truth.
” We therefore put the records straight”
“The outburst was an act of ignorant, for the Kingship constitution of Urhobos of Warri – Agbarha Warri and Okere Warri Kingdoms were gazetted by the Military Administrator of retired Navy Captain Walter Feghabo over 24 years ago
” So it should be seen that His Excellency, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Francis Oborevwori , the Governor of Delta State was wrongly accused of the allegation levied against him on the sponsorship of Urhobo traditional rulers in Warri.
” Therefore the Odua Nationalists Coalition should render an apology to Governor Oborevwori”
” It should be known that during the infamous Warri ethnic crisis, the three Warri Indigenous ethnic groups were given equal opportunities to defend the ownership claim of their areas of Warri through judicial panels of inquiry headed by Justices Allasan Idoko and Philip Nnaeamaka Agu, recommendations were made as to solutions to the unending problem of ownership claim of Warri by the Itsekiris.
‘ However, it is sad to note that the white paper reports on the said judicial panels of inquiry did not see the light of the day till date.
” We strongly believe that the white paper reports would reveal the true owners of Warri metropolis going by the presentation of documents and facts that were presented .
” It is not also true that Governor Oborevwori was conniving with INEC to shortchanged the Itsekiris in the on going delineation of electoral wards in the Warri Federal Constituency as falsely claimed by the so called Odua Nationalists Coalition .
” The exercise was in compliance of a Supreme Court judgement of 2022.
” So Governor Oborevwori also deserve an an apology from the so called Pan Yoruba Group.
“‘We emphasize that Warri Urhobo kingdoms were gazetted by law and that the Agbarha Warri and Okere Urhobo people proved this fact at the said judicial panels of inquiry.
” It is also true that the Itsekiris before the emergence of our good sent king , HRM Kingsley Orereh Igbi 11 accepted this fact for over twenty four years.
We then wonder why the on going outbursts .
” We are proud and glad to state that the seven Agbarha Warri communities of Otovwodo (Agbassa), Igbudu, Ogunu, Edjeba, Okurode (popularly known as Ekurede Urhobo) Ukpokiti ( rivene) and Oteghele ( rivene) are under the over lordship of HRM Igbi 11, the Ovie of Agbarha Warri Kingdom
With the above submission, we urge President Tinubu, Governor Oborevwori and indeed the general public to ignore the outburst of the so called Odua Nationalists Coalition and that they should been seen as those trying to fan the embers of discord in Warri
” We also wish to state that we are ever prepared to defend and proof the ownership claim of our areas of Warri with historical facts and documents “
