EFFURUN – The Uvwie General Improvement Union (UGIU) has called on the Delta State Government and security agencies to urgently address “inciting claims” made by certain Itsekiri leaders regarding the ownership of several communities within Uvwie Kingdom.
The UGIU warned that these claims, if left unchecked, could trigger a breach of peace between the two ethnic groups.
High Chief Hope Erute who made the statement on behalf of the people of Uvwie Kingdom condemned the claim, describing it as delusional folktales” and fallacious narratives aimed at sowing seeds of discord between the two ethnic groups.
The President General of Uvwie General Improvement union UGIU, High Chief Hope Erute while addressing newsmen in a press briefing over the recent claim by some Itsekiri leaders during Ghigho Aghofen festival that Ugbenuohwuru often referred to by the Itsekiri as Ugbolokposo,Okwatata
Iteregbi and Ugbomro communities were founded by their ancestors is fictional, asserting that Ugbenuohwuru also referred to as Ugbolokposo by the Itsekiris ,Okwatata,Iteregbi and Ugbomro are integral, indivisible parts of the Uvwie Kingdom under the lordship of the Ovie of Uvwie of kingdom ,Abe the first.
While warning that the peaceful nature of the Uvwie people should never be misinterpreted as a sign of weakness, High Chief Erute provided a detailed historical account to “sift the wheat from the chaff,” arguing that the Itsekiris’ own genealogy contradicts their claims of primary ownership.
He maintained that the Itsekiri were historically riverine migrants seeking shelter in Uvwie land ,adding that the legendary Itsekiri leader, King Nana, was maternally Uvwie.
The President General of Uvwie Improvement union further added that when persecuted by the British, Nana sought refuge in his maternal home of Uvwie, leading to a British invasion of Effurun in the 1890s as Uvwie people fought to protect him.
The President General of Uvwie Improvement union , High Chief Erute urged the Itsekiri leaders that are attempting to cause a breach of peace between the Uvwie and Itsekiri people to focus on community development rather than creating artificial crises.
He further asked the Itsekiri leaders involved in the claim of Uvwie communities to adopt the peaceful posture of other ethnic groups such as the Edo, Ibo, and Hausa living within the Uvwie Kingdom.
High Chief Erute revealed that the Uvwie kingdom is not afraid, and will never be afraid, to defend its territory, its heritage, and its people.
He stated that as peace loving people they are calling on the Delta State government to intervene on the issue to avoid
Inter communal clash .
The President General of Uvwie General Improvement Union noted that Uvwie kingdom and the Itsekiri nation have a long, documented history of peaceful coexistence, inter-marriage, and mutually beneficial social and economic relationships, demanding a cease and desist to such provocative narratives from the Itsekiri leadership.
