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 |