ITSEKIRI INTEREST GROUP CAUTIONS CHIEF MICHAEL JONNY AGAINST MISINFORMATION AND POLITICAL BLACKMAIL

The Itsekiri Interest Group (IIG) strongly condemns recent attempts by Chief Michael Jonny, a former leader within the Gbaramatu community, to drag the name of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, into baseless political controversies. We find it necessary to set the record straight and call for restraint, responsibility, and respect for national institutions and leaders.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu is not only the First Lady but also a distinguished stateswoman with a long-standing legacy of service, decorum, and a deep understanding of Nigeria’s laws, traditions, and political history. Any attempt to tarnish her reputation through blackmail or historical revisionism is not only misguided but also unacceptable.

It must be reiterated that the historical and legal status of land and territorial claims in the Niger Delta, particularly in relation to Gbaramatu, Ugborodo, and Omadino, have been long settled by judicial pronouncements, including the Supreme Court of Nigeria. These rulings affirm the legal recognition of the Gbaramatu people as tenants of both the Itsekiri communities of Ugborodo and Omadino. No amount of political propaganda or distortion of history can override the authority of the highest court in the land.

We also caution Chief Jonny against falsely assuming roles or capacities that are beyond his legal or institutional reach. He is not authorized to speak or act on behalf of the Department of State Services (DSS) or any Itsekiri-affiliated agency. Any such posturing is misleading and undermines national security protocols and the credibility of established agencies.

Furthermore, we find it deeply divisive and politically reckless to suggest that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu governs in favor of one ethnic group over others. President Tinubu is a leader for all Nigerians, Ijaws, Itsekiris, Urhobos, Yorubas, Hausas, and every other ethnic nationality. The claim that the First Lady or the President is being used in a political tug-of-war by Chief Jonny is disingenuous and must be outrightly rejected.

It is also important to remind the public that President Tinubu, in a clear demonstration of inclusivity, paid a historic visit to Gbaramatu two years ago, where he was warmly received by the traditional leadership and honored with a chieftaincy title. Since the beginning of this administration, the Ijaw people of Delta State, including those from Gbaramatu, have been among the major beneficiaries of federal appointments and strategic interventions. To now turn around and peddle falsehoods is an act of ingratitude and an attempt to fuel unnecessary ethnic tension.

The Itsekiri Interest Group calls on all well-meaning Nigerians to disregard the divisive rhetoric being peddled by Chief Jonny and to remain focused on the collective unity, development, and progress of the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large. We stand firmly in support of the First Lady and the President in their commitment to building a nation where equity, justice, and peace prevail.

Signed:

Gbubemi Awala
Chairman, Itsekiri Interest Group

Eyitemi Atake
Secretary, Itsekiri Interest Group