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From Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri
Prominent chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Ayirimi Emami, has hinted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu might be forced to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to seek a Supreme Court interpretation if the ongoing controversy over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) delineation of wards and constituencies in the Warri Federal Constituency remains unresolved.
Emami, the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, gave the hint on Monday at his Egbokodo residence in the Warri South Local Government Area, during a quiet celebration of the Ologbotsere Day of prayers.
Chief Emami revealed that despite explicit presidential directives to alter the controversial names of three wards in Warri South, specifically Boluama, Ewein, and Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Urban, INEC has failed to comply, instead retaining the disputed names on its official website.
Chief Emami, who was part of a high powered seven man Itsekiri delegation that attended a June 11 peace meeting convened by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, disclosed that he has faced numerous personal threats for speaking out on the matter.
“People are telling me not to talk again on the matter, but I will always stand for the truth and the progress of the Itsekiri Nation,” Emami asserted.
“The Supreme Court did not direct INEC to allocate our land to any other ethnic nationality, nor did it take land from others for the Itsekiri. While I will not allow any of the tribes I am biologically linked with to be shortchanged, it is clear that others are trying to grab what belongs to the Itsekiri.”
Emami insisted that the Itsekiri people had never opposed the Supreme Court judgement on the delineation matter but were demanding fairness in its implementation.
He criticised INEC’s handling of the exercise, stating bluntly that the commission’s officials “are not town planners” and vowed that stakeholders would not rest until the proper corrections are made.
According to him, peace can only thrive when all ethnic groups are treated equitably and no community is made to feel marginalised.
“What belongs to one community should not be taken and handed over to another. We are standing for justice, fairness and equity. Everybody must live together in peace, but that peace must be built on fairness,” Emami said.
Addressing a press conference earlier, Comrade Alex Eyengho, the spokesperson for the Ologbotsere Eyinmisanren Descendants, who read a joint statement co-signed by Emami, Prince Yemi Emiko, Eyengho and Sir Amorighoye S. Mene, accused INEC of selective implementation, noting that while the commission adopted directives that favoured a particular ethnic group in Warri North and Warri South West, it ignored the balancing measures intended to ensure fairness across all three local government areas.
Eyengho expressed concern that INEC had allegedly implemented only selected aspects of the agreements reached during the peace process while leaving out others considered crucial to fairness and lasting peace.
“We are deeply concerned that contrary to the spirit and outcome of the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and subsequent engagements involving stakeholders, INEC appears to have selectively implemented aspects of the understandings reached during the peace process while disregarding others,” Eyengho stated.
According to the statement, one of the major issues discussed during the Abuja meeting was the nomenclature of three wards in Warri South Local Government Area, namely Buluama, Ewein and Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Urban.
The Itsekiri leaders argued that the presidential intervention was aimed at addressing concerns surrounding the disputed ward names in the interest of peace, equity and mutual understanding among the ethnic nationalities in the constituency.
However, they alleged that INEC had retained the disputed names on its official website despite the discussions and understandings reached during the peace engagement.
“Recent developments indicate that INEC has proceeded to host and retain the disputed ward names on its national website, contrary to the intendment of the presidential intervention. This action has generated widespread concern among stakeholders and has further heightened tensions within the affected communities,” the statement said.
The leaders further alleged inconsistencies in the implementation of presidential directives relating to ward allocations in Warri South West and Warri North Local Government Areas.
According to them, while certain aspects of the agreements appear to have been implemented, other directives designed to ensure fairness, balance and inclusiveness across the three local government areas have not received equal consideration.
The group maintained that the presidential intervention was intended to promote peaceful coexistence, equitable representation and lasting harmony among the various ethnic nationalities within the Warri Federal Constituency.
They warned that selective implementation of agreements reached during the peace process could erode confidence among stakeholders and threaten the relative calm currently being maintained in the area.
“We therefore call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately and fully comply with the entirety of the presidential directives and understandings arising from the peace engagements concerning Warri South, Warri South West and Warri North Local Government Areas,” Eyengho added.
The group consequently appealed to INEC, security agencies and relevant government authorities to act in the interest of justice, fairness and national unity by ensuring that all resolutions reached during the presidential intervention are respected and implemented.
“We reaffirm our commitment to peaceful engagement, constitutional processes, the rule of law and constructive dialogue among all ethnic nationalities within the Warri Federal Constituency,” the statement added.
In a related development during the gathering, Chief Emami announced the appointment of Pa. Pullen Tonghanro Ajagboma as the Acting Olare Ebi (Family Head) of the Ologbotsere Eyinmisanren Descendants of Warri Kingdom.
The appointment followed the exit of Pa Higson Jofotan Oporokun, believed to be the oldest member of the Ologbosere descendants worldwide.
Family representatives disclosed that Pa Oporokun died at the age of 106.
They said descendants unanimously agreed on interim leadership arrangements to oversee family affairs and coordinate activities leading to the burial.
