WHEN Professor Itse Sagay expressed his views in
an essay concerning the location of Delta State capital, he was castigated by Itsekiris as an Urhobo stooge hankering for
personal gain. Now he has written another one titled:
"The Itsekiris, Ijaws, Urhobos and the political control of Warri
territory", published in Sunday Vanguard of May 11, 2003, which is attracting
adverse comments from Urhobo. This is not to say that Professor Sagay is
fair-minded but the parties to the Warri issue refuse to see reason, so he
is denigrated by both sides. Surely, Professor Sagay is a scholar. On that
score, I believe that he does not have all the facts, hence he has strayed
so sharply this time. But I am worried by the abusive style he has adopted
this time around.
I can find explanation for it in the fact that it ties neatly with
Itsekiri propaganda strategy. He must be aware of something in the offing.
It is a pre-emptive bluster to buy sympathy. The Itsekiri nation knows
that they are not at war with the entire Urhobo nation but with the small
population of Warri indigenous Urhobo whose population the Itsekiri
projected as 5000 only in 1990. These are the Agbarha and the Okere
Urhobo. The whole of Itsekiri land is at war with this negligible
population by Itsekiri computation. But they strenuously want to keep this
fact from the general public including the international media and the
U.S. State Department. Does Itse Sagay deny this? If he does, what does he
know about Warri to prompt him to start learning by throwing himself in at
the deep end?
It seems that the Itsekiris need a voice as strong as Professor Itse
Sagay’s to prop up their impossible case before the General T.Y.
Danjuma (retired) committee to establish peace in Warri. The fundamental
question that General Danjuma is bound to resolve is the ownership of
Warri. Warri is sweet poison that the Itsekiris have swallowed for which
General Danjuma has to administer to them an emetic. Warri is Urhobo
territory. It is the homeland of the Agbarha chiefs and people. General
Danjuma is requested to please regard Prof. Itse Sagay’s blustering
as intended for his ears. The Agbarha are not bothered by such thunder.
General Danjuma should regard it as unfair entrance through the back door.
Sagay has roamed round the world for generalisations. He will be tied down
to specifics at the right time.
But it is interesting that Prof. Sagay says: "The answer to the apparently
difficult (but in fact simple) question, who are the traditional owners
and indigenes of Warri territory, is to be found by the simple expedient
of considering another question: which ethnic nationality or group was in
political control of Warri land when the British came to the area." It is
my hope, not a vain one, for Prof. Sagay is a scholar, that when it is
shown convincingly Agbarha were in control when the British came, Prof.
Sagay will change sides and support the Agbarha against the untrue
Itsekiri claims to territory which was for the Agbarha and lost to them
for much the same reasons that Nana, the stalwart of indigenous rights
against the British lost and was replaced by the anti-indigene treachery
of Chief Dore Numa who sabotaged Nana and Oba Oworamuen of Benin and won
British medals, preferment as government chief despised by Itsekiris.
Itsekiri Nana was never Warri chief replaced by another Itsekiri chief
Dore as Sagay says. Dore as political agent for Benin River, Jakri country
from 1893 had his territory of Benin River, Jakri country extended to
include Warri formerly under George Eyube, Urhobo political agent of
Ugbogidi. Eyube died suddenly in 1901 by accident when his revolver went
off during a patrol and killed him. It is not true, as Sagay seems to
imply that British Colonial expansion was by conquest. It is not our
history. Colonial take-over of territory in the Delta area which we are
concerned with was by way of Treaties of Protection. Such treaties were
signed with Jakri chiefs in Jakri country and in a ship at Forcados, and
one with ‘Agbassa (Agbarha) Sobo "in Warri, for the protection of
the chiefs and people of Agbassa" and "the territory under their
jurisdiction and authority." Without going any further, this wording
satisfies Itse Sagay’s formula. The "Chiefs and People of Agbassa"
represent the political structure, the territory is theirs, over which
they had jurisdiction and authority, when the British met them. Itsekiri
were not mentioned. This was in 1893. What is striking about Sagay’s
loud cry is that it is the same loud wailing as Itsekiris have been making
through false propaganda viz. Itsekiri claims are "immemorial historical
facts. Warri North, South and Southwest are Itsekiri homeland while Ijaw
and Urhobo are immigrant communities. The entire Urhobo ethnic group is
carrying out a pogrom against the Itsekiri "aimed at wiping them off their
Warri homeland completely, and with that, the total elimination of their
immemorial human and political rights in their homelands." True to type
except that this comes from a scholar. If gold rusts what will iron do?
General Danjuma should be cautious and "fear the Greeks..." and note that
their time-honoured propaganda strategy is to transfer their own guilt to
the Urhobo nation. To give a few examples: feuding Itsekiris removed
Gbesimi Emiko, their Olu and sent him to all but royal village of Ogbese
near Owo and replaced him with Igbene. It was an Urhobo who redeemed him
and when it suited Itsekiris, to be vicious, they spared no foul phrase in
their attack on their benefactor.
It was Itsekiri E.N.A. Begho who told Agbarha Dr. Emmanuel Urhobo, "you
and your people do not exist," who accused the Urhobo nation of being "an
army of occupation" trying to efface them from existence. Yet, in actual
fact it was the effort of the Itsekiri that made the discrimination
against Urhobo to be entrenched in the Midwest Constitution of 1963
carrying on to 1979 when it was removed from the Federal Republic of
Nigeria Constitution of l979. Until then they could not stand
elections.
These are but a few examples of the dangerous Itsekiri as recorded by
their friend Capt. J.C.F. Pender when he characterized them thus in the
Itsekiri Intelligence Report: "12. The Itsekiri is always courteous and
polite both to Europeans and Africans alike, and in outward appearances at
least the young Itsekiri invariably treats his seniors with every respect.
13. The Itsekiri is most dangerous when he is suave, and can mislead a
stranger with the utmost politeness and demonstration of candour."
Such "candour" includes an affection of righteous indignation to veil
their own viciousness. Now, Professor Sagay is roaring about Urhobo
carrying out pogrom against the Itsekiri in order to wipe them, men and
matters, from their immemorial existence. Here is a rock underneath the
smooth surface. Sailor beware! When will Urhobo ever answer back? "Hard
words break no bones", Sir James Robertson, last white Governor-General of
Nigeria told us. If I may give Prof. Sagay gratuitous advice he will
benefit by opening up contact with Urhobo Historical Society, Email:
Editor@waado.org.