The Itsekiri National Youth Council (INYC) has reaffirmed its commitment to the Deleghe declaration, noting that the council is very committed to the territorial protection of the Itsekiri homeland. In a chat with newsmen in Warri recently, INYC president, Mr. Weyinmi Agbateyiniro said the welfare, safety and protection of every sons and daughters of the Itsekiri nation is paramount, and that it will go to any length to ensure that the objective is achieved.
Reacting to a recent statement credited to the Gbaramatu Ijaws, where they said they were not scared of the Deghele Declaration by over 250 Itsekiri communities, Agbateyiniro said the Ijaws should stop behaving as if they own the Niger Delta region and that they are not superior to any of the ethnic groups in the region, and as such are not mandated or delegated to speak for the region.
The INYC president noted that the Ijaws were only brought into prominence by the six-year reign of former President Goodluck Jonathan as the President, lamenting that since then, the Ijaw ethnic group has been carrying on as if they are the most superior clan in the region.
Reacting to the Deleghe declaration, the Ijaw Youth Council, (IYC) president, Mr Eric Omare said the Itsekiri youths have the right to their declaration but pointed out that the Ijaws “are only concerned with the inclusion of the relocation of Warri South West Local Government Area headquarters in Delta State from Ogbe Ijaw to Ogidigen and the changing of the name of Okerenko, where the Maritime University is situated to an Itsekiri name in their said declaration.
Said he, “We have our own Kaiama declaration so, the Itsekiri should focus on issues militating against the region and stop raising issues that can stir up a crisis.”
On his own, Urhobo Youth Council president, Mr Festus Igherebuo said the Itsekiri youth’s declaration is not coming as a surprise because they are not the first ethnic group in the region to do so. According to him, the problem of the region is the Federal Government’s non-nonchalant attitude towards the people.
Also, the president of Edo N’Ibaromi group, Mr Osazee Amas said: ”The Itsekiri youths have the right to their declaration. Any ethnic group that has a problem with the itsekiri declaration should go about it lawfully.
Also, Illaje Youth leader, Mr William Ayiren said: ”The Deleghe declaration is for their survival. Every ethnic group in the Niger Delta region has the right to protect their homeland. The declaration will also bring out some hidden truth about ownership of land in the region.”
