From Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri
The Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom in Delta State, Chief Ayirimi Emami, has called on President Bola Tinubu to ask the Inspector-General of Police and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to arrest the former deputy governor of Delta State, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, Esq.
Chief Ayiri, who made the call on Wednesday at a ceremony by the Ologbotsere Descendants Worldwide titled “The Day Ologbotsere Descendants Returned from the Battlefield”, accused Otuaro of orchestrating the origins of the ongoing political crisis between the Itsekiri and Ijaw ethnic nationalities.
Chief Ayiri accused Otuaro of exploiting his previous position as deputy governor to manipulate the boundaries adjustment process during the last administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
He claims this manipulation excluded numerous Itsekiri communities from critical coastal buffer zones, thereby denying them access to essential offshore benefits.
He urged President Tinubu to direct the IGP to conduct a thorough investigation and invite Otuaro for questioning over his role in the alleged National Boundary Commission fraud.
“The fraudulent adjustments carried out under Otuaro’s supervision have laid the groundwork for the current conflict between the Itsekiri and Ijaw,” he stated.
“I urge the NSA to arrest all those involved in this scheme, particularly Otuaro, who played a principal role in this deceit.”
Chief Ayiri presented documents related to the controversial boundary adjustments to support his allegations, describing them as a “fraudulent exercise” aimed at oppressing the Itsekiri nation.
He urged Itsekiri people worldwide to remain resolute as they seek justice over the contentious ward delineation proposed by INEC.
“All documents relating to the fraudulent boundaries adjustment exercise supervised by Otuaro vis-à-vis the contentious ward delineation exercise have been presented to the National Security Adviser, and we have made our position clear on it that it is all fraud.”
“I told the NSA that all those who participated in this fraudulent document led by Kingsley Otuaro should be arrested,” he reiterated.
He urged the Itsekiri nation to stand firm, as the vexed issues over the INEC ward delineation proposal have already been presented before the relevant authorities and are being addressed by the appropriate quarters.
He said that his title as Ologbotsere is a commitment to serve the Itsekiri people, stressing, “I will not allow any elements to distort the truth regarding our Itsekiri’s rights and dignity.”
“This my Ologbotsere title is a call to service. I was called to serve the Itsekiri nation. My life is dedicated to serving the Itsekiri nation; my head and neck I have dedicated to the Itsekiri cause, so I will not sit here as Ologbotsere and allow some elements within and outside to try to turn the truth upside down.”
“Nobody should threaten the Itsekiri nation. We are like a needle that cannot be swallowed,” he asserted.