Ward delineation: Ijaw, Urhobo raise the alarm over threat to peace in Warri

Activist faults delineation
Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Warri Federal Constituency, Delta State, yesterday, held a joint press briefing where they appraised the fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units as ordered by the Supreme Court, warning of a threat to peace and security arising from the exercise.
  
They alleged that the Itsekiris were planning to instigate a crisis by attacking oil facilities, blackmailing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the government to frustrate the Supreme Court order.
  
In a statement signed by the Ijaw and Urhobo representatives: Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, Sheriff Mulade, Arthur Akpodubakaye, Joel Bisina, (for Ijaw); Emmanuel Igweei, John Eranvor, Westham Adehor, Olorogun Victor Okumahba and Mark Ikpuri, (for Urhobo), they noted the desperate attempts by the Itsekiri ethnic nationality to blackmail the Nigerian government and INEC to carry out the delineation on their terms and trying to instigate a crisis in Warri. 
  
They stated that the Itsekiri have done this through attempts to disrupt oil and gas operations in parts of Delta State, persistent media attacks on INEC and instigating some Yoruba groups to issue reckless statements. 
  
The Ijaw and Urhobo called on the Federal Government to consider the attempt to disrupt oil and gas operations as a result of compliance with the order of the Supreme Court as an act of terrorism and bring the perpetrators to justice. 

MEANWHILE, a rights activist, Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has faulted the recent ward delineation in Warri South Local Council of Delta State, stating that the rightful owners of the land were not consulted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
  
Insisting that the land belongs to the Ogisi Odion family at a press briefing yesterday in Lagos, the Igba of Warri Kingdom, submitted: “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 all the other supposed stakeholders. Odion came in 1474.
  
“Following the recent INEC’s ward delineation exercise in the three Warris and, especially Warri South LGA (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 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, that is, the Ereku/Ogisi family.

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