Rights activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has faulted the recent ward delineation in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, saying the right owners of the land were not consulted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Addressing journalists in Lagos yesterday, the Igba of Warri Kingdom insisted that the land belongs to the Ogisi Odion family.
She said: “What is today known as Warri was initially known as Odion town long before the colonial era. Odion town, named after its founder, was the first man and town that pre-existed before all the other supposed stakeholders. Odion came in 1474.
“Following the recent INEC’s ward delineation exercise in the three Warri local councils, especially Warri South Local Government Area, our ancestral land was conspiratorially given away by INEC.
“However, we are not surprised because the exercise was led by an Ijaw leader, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, who heads the Regional Electoral Commission. They are our tenants.”
She requested that the situation should be addressed, urging the INEC Chairman to correct the gross anomaly fostered by the connivance of its Regional Commission to involve the primary stakeholders/owners of the land, the Ereku/Ogisi Family.
“The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, should call Tantita company/Tompolo to order, to immediately remove their flags installed on my family land at Odion, which he purportedly came about by one Godbless Merogun whose ancestors from Ugbowangue are our tenants at Fugbe, Odion town to forestall any disorder and escalation of violence.
“The Federal Government should look into the issue of Tompolo, who has been weaponised by his Tantita security company with guns, money, gun boats, manpower and power to conclude their expansionist ambition. They already rule all the Nigerian coastline.
“My President, Nigeria has left us empty and can be wiped out any day. We appeal, suggest and implore His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly; the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, that the case of an ‘Itsekiri State’ be urgently and strongly considered and granted.
“Let the Itsekiri people have their own state on their land, like the case of the Ijaw in Bayelsa State and others, separate from Ijaw and the Urhobo. An Itsekiri State on our land will strongly help to prevent these disturbing, reprehensible acquisitiveness, avarice and schism of our neighbours,” she added.