There is a widely held belief that the Niger Delta region is backward; a far cry from what it should be as the goose that lays the golden egg for the country. The region, it is believed, ought to be many decades ahead of where it is now in terms of development as the custodian of the oil wealth the nation mostly depends on for its revenue. However, this is not to be so as the people there continue to wallow in abject poverty, deprivations and underdevelopment.
While the Federal Government may be guilty of not giving the region enough attention, many concerned stakeholders are of the view that the people also deserve blame for their inability to come together and present a common front in demanding for their rights from the government.
Making the assertion at the weekend, the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, said the level of neglect and underdevelopment the people of the Niger Delta suffer under the Federal Government would not have been so pathetic if the various ethnic groups were not bound by primordial acrimony and disunity.
The monarch was harping on the imperative for unity in the region as he renewed unity building advocacy with his ethnic neighbors in a colorful visit to His Royal Majesty, Ogurimerime, the Ovie of Agbon kingdom at Otorho-Agbon, Ethiope East local government area, Delta state.
Both monarchs grew up as intimate friends and schoolmates at St. Kelvins Grammar School, Kokori, Ethiope East Council area, before transforming to monarchs in their respective domains.
The Olu was accompanied by members of his traditional Council and Princes including Chief Ayiri Emami, Ologbotsere of Warri, Chief Johnson Amatseruleghe, Iyatsere of Warri, Chief Gabriel Awala, Uwangue of Warri, Chief Billy Besigiwa, Chief Solomon Areyika, Chief Winifred Egbejule, Chief Olivia Agbajo, Chief Eugene Ikomi, Chief Mike Odeli, Prince Dr. Ayu and Prince Yemi Emiko.
The Warri monarch said, “Why are we being so treated unfairly and unjustly? It is because there is no unity among us.. Delta is blessed, but because of primordial hatred, we don’t grow as we ought to. When Delta was to be created, we rejected it because we didn’t feel loved. The state capital was to be in Warri, Itsekiri said no because of mutual suspicion. Government sees us as unserious.
“During Jonathan’s era, no Itsekiri man was selected for the National Confab while others got multiple representation. It took Chief Tunde Smooth, an Ijaw with the new thinking of peace for collective unity and other Itsekiri leaders, who wrote in the papers condemning the action. We then had a representative.”
Also speaking on the recent threats by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to resume hostilities in the region through destruction of oil installations, Ogiame Ikenwoli, condemned the planned renewal of oil assets destruction by the Avengers just as he flayed the proliferation of militant groups and the multiplicity of leaders forum in the region. He also threw his weight behind the 16 point agenda of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
“I reiterate my call on the Avengers to shun acts of violence and destruction of oil assets with associated massive damage to our own environment, endangering lives of our unborn generation. In the guise of militancy, we have self styled Generals and Commanders everywhere more than we have in the Nigerian Army put together.
“The inclination to violence is not the answer. It is not the answer. But I also recognise that the government must keep promises. The Vice-President said so many things when he went round. Though the government grinds slowly, promises must be kept, and I know they will keep it.
“It beats my imagination that people went to form parallel PANDEF. I was in Aso Rock during the PANDEF meeting with the President. We had robust engagement, but no sooner than PANDEF came, people started fighting them and went to create another body. Government will not see us as serious.
“I support PANDEF, the 16 point agenda. Let us all embrace peace. What we are looking for will not elude us for long in the atmosphere of unity.”
“I am going round preaching love and unity across the land.. I am not pretending about it. I have visited several palaces among my immediate neighbors and those afar. What I hear today is that this is the first time an Olu would visit. This will not be my last visit here.
“All I preach is, let’s not live in the past. Let’s live in the present we know, use the opportunity of today to work for a better tomorrow. By the time you trace your roots to your great, great grandparents as an Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko or Ijaw man, you will discover you are related to the other tribe you hate relating with”.
“My great grandmother is an Okpe Woman from Ugbokodo. The mother of the five prominent Itsekiri royals is Ijaw from Isaba. This is what we should be doing, regular togetherness, so when an outsider see us, they will say they are brothers you can’t come between them
The new thinking is unity for all. There are bound to be arguments when we cohabit, but we must show understanding and reconcile. Let us work for peace living for one another. If Urhobo man has a problem, Itsekiri man should say no, this is my brother. That way outsiders will be afraid to come between us”
The Olu’s Chief host on the occasion, the Ovie of Agbon thanked the Warri monarch and his people on the recent emergence of Chief Ayiri Emami as the Ologbotsere of Warri as well as the appointment of new Iyatsere and Uwangue for the Warri kingdom.
“I am happy for you and your people for making Chief Emami Ologbotsere. I thank the Olu profusely for the emergence of the new Iyatsere who speaks Agbon fluently and has been a son of the soil”.
“All things that eluded us before we came to the throne will never elude us anymore. Anything that will bring progress to Urhobo and Itsekiri nation, we will collectively support.
“I thank the government of Delta for also supporting our kingship. We assure the government that with us at the leadership of the grassroots, the sky would be our state in the quest for peace”.
The Agbon monarch was joined in hosting the Warri monarch by subjects including Chief Moses Faith Orogun, Otota (Spokesman) of Agbon kingdom, Chief Bernard Edewor, Chief J.O. Eruvwetagware, Prof. Onigu Otite, Chief Uloho Otite, Chief Steve Eruotor, Chief M. O. A. Adotomre, and Chief Faith Majemite, immediate past chairman, Ethiope East LG.
