By Onozure Dania

WARRI—DIFFERENT Ijaw and Itsekiri socio-political groups, including individuals, have been advised against provocative statements, and peddling of half-truths capable of igniting disharmony and mutual distrust between both ethnic nations.

Reacting to a statement by an Ijaw pressure group, Delta Security Watch Organisation, NDSWO, which was a reaction to an earlier one by the  Warri Study Group, WSG, an Itsekiri pressure group, a member of House of Representatives, Mr. Daniel Reyenieju, in a statement, advised members of NDSWG and others along the same line of reasoning, not to assume that the views expressed  by the Warri Study Group automatically reflect and epitomize that of the entire Itsekiri ethnic nation.

The lawmaker, who represents Warri federal constituency, noted: “Freedom of expression and speech remain an inalienable right of any person or group and all the WSG has done is to exercise that right. However, the mere exercise of such right does not translate into the correctness of information dished out, including claims.”

He admonished the Nigerian media  to avoid sensationalism in its reportage, particularly through catchy headlines that are capable of igniting ethnic tension and mistrust.

With specific reference to the stakeholders meeting which was held in Effurun, Delta State, a fortnight ago, he said: “I was specifically invited and had wanted to attend but for other earlier commitments which stretched to the time of my flight from Warri.

“Even at that, the Itsekiri ethnic nation was adequately represented by prominent Itsekiri sons and daughters, among whom were Chief Isaac Jemide (the Oshodin of Warri), Mrs. Esther Okotie-Eboh, Messrs Omimi Esquire and Okoroloko, including Professor Lucky Akaruese, among a host of others.

“From information available to me, Prof. Akaruese was a member of the Communiqué Drafting Committee, while Chief Jemide was among those who reviewed the draft. It could be as a result of inadequate information, or possibly deep-rooted self-conceiting and self-induced opinionatedness and arrogance for any person or group to claim that Itsekiri ethnic nation was not adequately represented at the stakeholders’ meeting.

“Also, reference to the meeting between the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu  and a few traditional rulers, including some stakeholders from the region which took place last week at Abuja, the Itsekiri nation was adequately represented in the person of Prof. Akaruese.”

Reyenieju warned against pronouncements by any person or group, “that are capable of undermining the much needed unity, peace and cohesion in the region especially at this trying period of the region’s history of underdevelopment, environmental degradation and bloody inter-ethnic contestations.”