CONCERNED CITIZENS OF WARRI IJAWS (CCWI)
2,PERE CLOSE, Oporoza Town Gbaranmatu-Kingdom,
Warri South- West Council,Delta State
e-mail: c_c_w_I@yahoo.com
15th August 2003
THE PLAN OF THE ITSEKIRIS TO ELIMINATE THE WARRI IJAWS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT
It is disheartening to inform the international community and the
general public that the ethnic crisis between the Itsekiris and the
Warri Ijaws over oppression and political marginalization has taken
a different dimension, as the Delta State Government is set to wipe
out the Warri Ijaws.
The State Government, which is supposed to be mediating and
correcting the political injustices in
existence, has now taken a side. Not only has the Government taken a
side; it has gone a step further by tagging the Warri Ijaws as
rebels.
To actualize the Itsekiri agenda, the Delta State Government under
Chief James Onanefe Ibori has deliberately empowered the Itsekiris
against the Ijaws.
First, the Governor made Dr Uduaghan, an Itsekiri and his cousin,
Secretary to the State Government, Secondly, the Governor crookedly
appointed his Itsekiri kinsmen as Chairmen of the three Local
Government Areas of Warri North, South and South-west when the
fundamental issues of ward delineation and creation of Local
government have not been addressed. With this arrangement, public
fund is being used to finance the Itsekiri war machine.
Lastly, the Governor made public show of his commitment to peace by
telling the whole world a lie that he was relocating to Warri in
order to address the crisis; whereas the original and grand design
was to enable him and Dr Uduaghan properly coordinate their war
plan.
The government perfected their ploy by drafting a script for the
security to the extent that any move against Itsekiri interest
should be crushed by the security operatives.
This was evidenced in the army destruction of Okumagba estate under
the instruction of the Itsekiris. The popular Idama Hotel, Total
Filling Station, Avenue Police Station are some public properties
that were destroyed. More than twenty five (25) persons were killed.
Ordrinarly,the security operatives are supposed to be neutral, but
regrettably the reverse is the case in Warri where they are to deal
with any thing that bears the semblance of anti-Itsekiri.
We the Ijaws of Warri call upon the general public and the
international community to intervene on the Itsekiri-Military
genocide on Warri Ijaws under the close supervision, and logistics
support from the Delta State Government.
The Delta State Governor is fully aware
of the apartheid system being practised. by his mother’s people (the Itsekiris) in the state before he
became the Governor. But ironically,
“HE HAS NOT GOT THE WILL POWER” to correct the wrongs
owing to the pressures from his kinsmen. He lacks the moral ground
and political platform to lay claim to the toga of a peace
advocate.
We are not unaware of the Delta State Government promoting and
supervising the Itsekiris agenda in all manner of
ramifications. The Warri Ijaws have been
deemed as the aggressors over this endless crisis. Whereas, it is
the fear of the Itsekiris (the aggressors ) that the State
Government is unable to implement the various reports of the panels
constituted on Warri crisis in the past. The Itsekiris dictate for their sons who are in the apex of
government. What do you expect; the
government is under their tutelage.
Consequently, Ibori’s regime is Anti-Warri Ijaws, do not
doubt it because you are looking for an appointment or
contract. The truth will unfold if the
water boils and evaporates within the shortest possible time.
He deprived the Warri Ijaws of top governmental appointment in spite
of his several promises. Do you think
ordinarily that the Itsekiris who are in the caucus and dictate will
allow the Governor to give such an appointment to Warri Ijaws?
To buttress the government total support of the Itsekiri agenda and
their (Itsekiri) arguments and claims of the ownership of the three
Warri local government areas, the government disregarded the
principle’s of peoples democratic party (PDP) of using the
flag bearer of the party to head the transition committees of the
councils by appointing the Itsekiris as chairmen so as to carry out
their nefarious act of elimination. In Warri South West Chief Couple
Oromoni, an Ijaw, was dropped for Hon. David Tonwe an Itsekiri;
while in Warri North, Mr. Michael Diden who was disqualified along
with Mr Francis Omatseye following their roles on the crisis that
visited the parties primaries was picked to edge out Mr Prayer A
Malafakumo, an Ijaw man. This the government of Chief James Ibori
unconstitutionally did because he saw in Diden a veritable
instrument in prosecuting the war of extermination against the
Ijaws. True to projections, Diden has not disappointed book makers
as he donated and fuelled Warri North Council Boats for the
Itsekiris with which they launched attack on Erekongbene,
Mangorogbene, and Ojudorgbene respectively. The whole world must hear this evil plan of the Delta State
Government that is using state machineries to fight the Warri Ijaws
who are only asking for their political and God given rights.
We believe in a fundamental principle that if the State Government
for fear of the Itsekiris fails to address this issue appropriately
God in his time will redress it one day.
In the recent past under the supervision and monitoring of Delta
Government, the Itsekiris warlords in a military uniforms kidnapped
Ijaw passengers and they were subsequently killed. Surprisingly, the government in high quarters became the mouthpiece
for the Itsekiris thereby denied the allegation and tagged it as an
act of piracy. This has been done in
order to call for sympathy from the Federal Government,
international community and the general public so as to have free
hands in dealing with the Warri Ijaws.
The Itsekiri warlords under the co-ordination of the Delta State
Government went and attacked Abi-Gborodo and the same government
accused the Warri Ijaws and even insulted an Ijaw monarch. Be informed that our ancestors will hardly forgive the Deputy
Governor for that singular act because he has done harm to the
Lord’s anointed.
What did the State Government want by misrepresenting and
misinforming the general public about the Warri Ijaws? Be it told that various Ijaw communities in the three Warri local
areas have been set ablaze by the Itsekiris led by the Warri North
local council chairman with his council speed boats. Is the DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT unaware of what has been
happening? Can the secretary to the
State Government deny his involvement in these sporadic attacks on
those Ijaw communities? Let the
Secretary to the State Government name those perpetrators of the
Warri crisis as he stated on Thursday vanguard 14th
August 2003
POINTS FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE IF IT IS NOT INVOLVED.
* Several nocturnal
meetings have been held in one Chief K. B. Omatseye’s place
opposite Sapele Athletic Club, Sapele, so as to rein terrors on the
Ijaws. Take note that the state
government representatives are always in attendance.
* The Itsekiris war
speedboats and the warlords are being accommodated in Sapele.
* Ajoki a community
behind Koko town is military Base for the Itsekiri warlords. About eight speedboats mounted with machine guns are being
stationed there.
·
In Koko towns, the Itsekiri’s war speedboats are glaring; the
military personnel who are on the pay roll of the chief co-ordinator
Rita Lori-Ogbebor are training the warlords.
·
It is also on record that before the attack on the Ijaw communities
of Ereknogbene,Ojudorgbene and Gbarikogbene, the Secretary to the
State Government, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, had a secret meeting with
his kinsmen in Koko where the plan to attack was perfected and
executed.
* Ogheye/Orere is
also their military Base.
IN THE WARRI SOUTH AND WARRI SOUTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS
THE ITSEKIRIS HAVE THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES
* A sophisticated
method of assassination of prominent Ijaw leaders in Warri and other
places, which later would be tagged as an armed robbery incident by
the state government.
* Kidnapping and
killing of people of Ijaw extraction in Warri and its environ.
* House to house raid
of the Ijaws in Warri under the pretence of military operations or
searching for arms and ammunition.
·
Stopping and searching of vehicles on the road for Ijaws to be
abducted and killed silently
·
Destroying and burning down of houses and
business centres owned by the Ijaws in Warri and its environment
·
Forceful ejection of Warri Ijaws from their homeland under the
protext of reclaiming land for development purposes. Ogbe-Ijoh
market area and NPA Quarters are primary targets for this
operation.
SOME OF THE ARMORIES, WHERE ARMS AND AMMUNITION ARE STOCKPILED BY THE ITSEKIRI IN WARRI METROPOLIS AND ENVIRON.
* Ekurede Itsekiri
the caravans opposite Olu’s palace and some buildings in the
area.
* A storey building
in Okere market about three hundred meters to Essi junction.
* Lawyer’s
compound in Iyara. There are also about fourteen speedboats painted
Red and black that are in the creek leading to the compound.
* Chief
Ogedegbe’s compound through Akra junction Iyara, Pessu Market.
Their military Zones for their operations are – Ugbuwangue
Orugbo, Odegine Amadion, Igborodo, Aruton, Ogidigben, and
Madagho.
Funny enough, “The Peacemaker” the Governor of Delta
State is overseas holidaying when his house is on fire. It is not
surprising to us because the grand design for the war of elimination
of Warri Ijaws have been well laid out and logistics provided. So
his presence is no longer required for the execution of the
plan.
His relocation to Warri on peace mission is an irony of history.
In the light of the above, we want to appeal to well-meaning
Nigerians and the International community to mediate on the crisis
before law and order completely break down.
We have lost confidence in the sincerity of the Governor to resolve
this matter as he has completely compromised his position on
tackling the issues fairly and freely.
We also call on Ijaws in and around Warri to beware, as they are
targets of Itsekiris and Delta State Government onslaught.
Finally it is our sincere hope that our call will be treated with
the urgency it requires as we cannot continue to fold our hands and
watch our kith and kin being slaughtered daily. Our resolve to tow
the line of peace in the resolution of the Warri crisis should not
be taken for a weakness.
Enough is enough.
For and on behalf CCWI:
| Capt. Clery Ibojoh | ||
| Mr Messio German | Gandy Soroaghaye |