By Emma Amaize

ITSEKIRI Leaders in Delta State have called on the Governor of the State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to rein in the Chief Priest of Ugborodo, an Itsekiri community in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Mr Benson Dube Omadeli, who had declared himself  king of the town under the over-lordship of the Olu of Warri Kingdom..

The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILoT, in a joint letter to the governor by the chairman and secretary, Chief Edward Ekpoko and Sir Amorighoye Mene respectively, said: “We, the members of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT) have found it necessary to address this open letter to Your Excellency in order to call your attention to an unpleasant development in Warri Kingdom.”

Gov. Okowa

According to the letter, “Mr. Benson Dube Omadeli, the Olaja-Orori of Ugborodo,  has illegally declared himself king of Itsekiri community, Ugborodo, to wit His Royal Majesty, Suo VI, the Olaja-Orori of Ugborodo kingdom/clan. Ugborodo community is an integral part of Warri kingdom.

“Ordinarily, Mr. Omadeli is only a chief priest in Ugborodo, which does not bestow on him the rights and privileges of a monarch. Fortunately, there are protocols, procedures and extant law to protect and guide the Itsekiri and Warri kingdom to prevent people like him from usurping or declaring themselves as traditional kings,” the leaders asserted..

They added: “Our open letter is, therefore.  to call on you being the Chief Security Officer of the state to do all things necessary to call Mr. Benson Dube Omadeli and his accomplices to order and bring them to justice.”

ILoT stated: “We call on the Delta state Ggovernment to intervene in the crisis in Ugborodo. Those behind the so-called Ugborodo kingdom/clan brain-wave are in violation of Itsekiri native law and custom and also, the extant law.”

“Mr. Benson Dube Omadeli, who is parading himself as His Majesty, Olaja-Orori Suo VI of Ugborodo Kingdom and some others have since on the 24th November 2017, been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police for various criminal offences.

“It is therefore sad that he could fraternize with the traditional ruler of a neighbouring community, as widely published in the Vanguard newspaper and the social media. The traditional ruler by this act of association with a person declared wanted by the Police has run foul of the law. The law enforcement agents should be on the watch out,” the leaders said.

They noted: “Ugborodo community is the host to major oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta. The Delta state government and Federal government must act now to check the excesses of this few misguided elements in Ugborodo”.

The Itsekiri leaders, however, stated: “The crisis is avoidable and the vituperations are unnecessary. We observed that, at least a chief of Warri kingdom is on both sides of the crisis. He runs with the hare and hunt with the hounds. Also, some of our neighbours are stoking the crisis for obvious selfish interests.”

ILoT, on the other hand, clarified:” From history and the case of Dore vs. Olue (1921), it is settled that the Olu has overlordship rights over all Itsekiri lands, including Ugborodo and that the Olu of Warri by the 1st Schedule to the Traditional Rulers, Council and Chiefs Law Cap. T2, Vol. 5, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria 2008, is the only prescribed authority in Itsekiri in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West Local Government Areas of Delta state.”

“The Olaja-Orori Suo VI of Ugborodo Kingdom is not a title recognized by law.

“We call on those people who are with the Olaja-Orori to sheath their sword and allow peace to reign in Warri Kingdom. We know they have grievances against certain persons in Itsekiri but they must not allow it to destroy our collective heritage.

“The institution of the Olu of Warri is the symbol of Itsekiri unity, pride and early civilization. It cannot be compromised.  While we encourage good neighbourliness as they are doing with the Gbaramatu people, they must be cautious not to cut off their nose to spite their face; and our neighbours too should not be seen as encouraging rebellion within Itsekiri. It is not in the interest of the larger Itsekiri vis-à-vis good neighbourliness,” the leaders said.