We don’t want crisis again in Warri -Chief Gbenekama declares
By: Ella Akpa
The Fiyewei (Spokesman) of ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, High Chief Godspower Gbenekama JP on Wednesday September 17, said they don’t want any form of crisis again in Warri, the commercial nerve centre of Delta State.
Chief Gbenekama made this declaration Wednesday, noting that four(4) Ijaw youths were allegedly shot and injured in Warri by their Itsekiri counterpart during the crisis that erupted on Tuesday September 16. Chief Gbenekama stated this in an interview with Our Correspondent in Warri.
Warri as the main status of Delta State economy and Nigeria will crumble. If there’s crisis “We the Ijaw, Urhobo leaders and a few Itsekiri leaders don’t want crisis. Itsekiris should know what happened during the crisis.”
“Chief Gbenekama noted that the Ijaws surrendered their arms and ammunition after the crisis and embraced Amnesty in the State. “Guns more than what they can gather. We have decided not to do that because crisis does not pay or do anyone good.”
“Chief Gbenekama condemned yesterday’s incident wherein security agencies particularly the police were used by the Police by suspected Itsekiri youths and leaders to remove the banners of the Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom, HRM Monbene III who was celebrating his 10th coronation anniversary is an act of aggression against the Ogbe-Ijoh people.
“He said it’s worrisome because security agencies who are supposed to keep the peace, maintain law and order are the ones who now fester crisis saying,”they have sold themselves to the whims and caprices to crisis. They’re crisis entrepreneurs. There are a lot of crisis entrepreneurs who want to cause crisis in Warri Federal Constituency.”
“Chief Gbenekama recalled that in 1952, the late Obafemi Awolowo wrongly gave the title of the Olu of Warri to Itsekiri Monarch. According to him,”The Ijaws and Urhobos protested. True to his kind of person, and may have been advised and he used the legislative structures to exclude the powers of the Olu on/from the land of Gbaramatu, Isaba, Ogbe-Ijoh,Egbema Kingdoms and others.”
“Chief Gbenekama who reacted to a video making the rounds by an Itsekiri youth he described as an “idiot” said the fellow is bent on fermenting trouble. He said the Gbaramatu King was given Staff of Office.”
Chief Gbenekama however said,”Thank God the title of the Pere of Gbaramatu did not change to an identity that does not exist.
Chief Gbenekama said bloggers who peddle wrong news/information on social media platforms do not read and are or professionals. “They don’t know their right from their left.”
Chief Gbenekama stressed that Tuesday September 16 incident in Warri was allegedly caused by the Police prompted by the suspected Itsekiri youths and leaders.
He said during the days of former Governor of Delta State,Chief James Onanefe Ibori, the Ijaws, Itsekiris would have been called to settle their dispute but instead the current Governor of the State, Sheriff Oborevwori have kept silence and allowed the two tribes to destroy themselves. “It’s a surprise that NPA water front where the Ijaws dominate Army truck(Armoured Personnel Carrier,APC)was stationed there and the area condoned.”
According to him,”Government know those people have arms and allowed them to walk freely and attack Ogbe-Ijoh people. If the Police has been bought over,is the Army bought over? You condoned Warri water front, why not also condone Itsekiri areas?
While noting that,” Ijaw people are capable of defending themselves”, Chief Gbenekama said it’s not this “clandestine arrangement where nothing is being done or said about the matter on ground by Delta State Government led by Sheriff Oborevwori. Not those things from his stooges we hear or read about.”
Chief Gbenekama beat his hands on his chest and said he had no appointment from the State and Federal Government saying,”am a traditionalist. I am the Fiyewei of Gbaramatu Kingdom.”
He asked,”why protect the Itsekiris against the Ijaws? Why Invite us with DSS?
He warned,”Let the government know that our peaceful disposition of not carrying arms is because we don’t want crisis in Warri Federal Constituency.
He pointed out that the Itsekiri wants a renewed crisis so that the delineation by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC cannot be done.
He called on the Federal Government and all its agencies dabbling their hands into the INEC process to remove their hands otherwise, they will cause the crisis which they’ve been avoiding.
He also said the delays being caused by INEC on the delineation exercise is causing more harm than good.
“Anyone you see in a village, let him register and vote there. It has nothing to do with who gets what.”
Chief Gbenekama said the fact that some Hausa indigenes in Igbudu market area vote at a polling unit there does not mean they own the land.
“INEC issues has nothing to do with land ownership. Itsekiris have turned themselves to boundary adjustment agencies/commissions.”
Chief Gbenekama said the member representing the people of Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon.(Chief) Thomas Ereyitomi, a friend and brother of Ijaw people is being dragged into issues by the Itsekiris with aim to rubbish his name and discredit his person despite his sincerity, ability and struggle to ensure that the crisis does not come up. “They want Ijaw people to be angry with him, Chief Dr. Ereyitomi is from Ijaw land paternally. He is also an Itsekiri man.
“When we are bereaved/sick, Hon. Chief Thomas Ereyitomi privately send money to those people. Is that kind of person you cannot protect.
Chief Ayiri Emami and Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, the people of Itsekiri don’t like them. Chief Ayiri, the people don’t like him. Yet, he wants to die there.”
Chief Gbenekama used the opportunity to call on persons with Ijaw blood to come home to their fatherland.
“I also want to call on the Federal Government and Delta State Government to call the DPO “A” Division to order or else, we will protest until he is removed. I will lead the protest until he is removed. What he did is unwarranted, callous and uncalled for.”
Chief Gbenekama enjoined Sheriff Oborevwori to learn from the Odidigboigbo of Africa, Chief James Onanefe Ibori who made sure the crisis did not fester during his reign.
Chief Gbenekama said rather than ensure the peace of the land, Oborevwori is concerned with Federal roads so that he can go and collect money from the Federal Government why the State roads inside Warri are impassable.
“Only gullible people cannot talk. His appointees are gullible. Gbaramatu people are not gullible. I am not gullible. I speak out. He should not use Warri Federal Constituency as business for security votes collection.
“Warri is owned by everybody. It’s not owned by Itsekiris. They cannot come at will to attack the Ijaw people. The Ijaws are better positioned to look for arms.
“Army leave our people alone. If you to condone anywhere, you should condone Itsekiri lands. Your condoning our area makes us looks as aggressors. We are afraid.
“Federal Government direct Delta State Government on what to do because it appears Sheriff Oborevwori does not know what he is doing..”
Chief Gbenekama also appealed to Ijaw and Urhobo Youths to calm down and not allow their Itsekiris counterparts provoke them into any form of crisis that will stop the delineation exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the interest of peace. He said they should maintain the cool and be in peace because the aim of the Itsekiris is to stop the delineation exercise and make it look as if they’re the troublesome people in Warri Federal Constituency.
