April 11, 2025
Rebuttal to Michael Johnny’s Claims: A Misguided Narrative Lacking Historical and Legal Merit
WARRI, DELTA STATE — The attention of the Itsekiri Nation has been drawn to the recent comments made by Mr. Michael Johnny on social media—comments which, by every legal and historical standard, are misleading, inflammatory, and devoid of factual grounding. His assertions that the Itsekiri people rely on propaganda and do not annex communities are not only baseless but also reflect a profound misunderstanding of the historical and judicial record.
Contrary to his claims, the territories in contention—particularly those cited by elements within the Gbaramatu axis—are historically, culturally, and legally part of the Omadino communities of the Itsekiri Nation. This is a matter of established jurisprudence, repeatedly affirmed by competent courts of law. Prominent Ijaw figures, including Mr. Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), are fully aware of this reality. The consistent recruitment of persons from Ondo, Edo, Bayelsa, and other parts of Delta to bolster festival attendance is a tacit acknowledgment of demographic insufficiency. Mr. Ekpemupolo is invited to suspend all financial inducements and observe the organic turnout.
It must be unequivocally stated: the Ijaw have no legal title to these lands. Judicial precedents have consistently reinforced Itsekiri ownership. The presence of Ijaw traders at locations such as Awoh, Dore Markets (Okere land), or Miller Waterside (Ugbori land), in no way confers ownership. By logical extension, to argue otherwise would be to assert that Hausa Quarters in Warri belong to the Hausa simply due to their economic activity there—a clearly untenable proposition in law.
Mr. Johnny’s unfortunate remarks fall far below the standards of reasoned and responsible dialogue expected in matters of inter-ethnic engagement. His posture neither reflects the wisdom nor the decorum required for constructive discourse.
Furthermore, the Warri Federal Constituency is historically and lawfully Itsekiri territory. While Ijaw and Urhobo communities reside within it, they do so as coexisting stakeholders—not as proprietors. Any attempt to distort this reality through politically motivated ward delineation must be resisted. We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under the leadership of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to uphold the principles of equity, legality, and constitutional integrity in all delineation exercises. Manipulation through monetary influence must find no foothold in a democratic state governed by the rule of law.
The Itsekiri Nation remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, justice, and the protection of its ancestral inheritance. We will continue to engage constructively, but we will not remain silent in the face of historical revisionism or legal falsehoods.
Iwere Media
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