Let Us Not Trade The destiny of Generations for immediate Gains” – Chief Barr. Robinson Ariyo Responds to Esimaje Awani on warri peace claims
They claim to have sustained a peace project with the Ijaws in the face of the developments we shall currently highlight.
The secret institution of the following cases by the Ijaws, allegedly empowered by funds obtained through unintended government contacts and patronage:
1.The INEC -Supreme Court case secretly instituted and prosecuted behind our backs, from the trial court all the way to the Supreme Court.
2. The case instituted to stop elections in the three Warri Local Government Areas, which we were fortunate to discover in time. We joined the suit and eventually obtained judgment against the Ijaws as part of the alleged unsuccessful litigation.
3.The case involving the Ama Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh, who claimed that his jurisdiction extended beyond Warri South-West to Warri South. This case was also secretly instituted by the Ijaws. We discovered it, joined the proceedings, and obtained judgments against them at both the trial and appellate courts.
4. The case secretly instituted by the Ijaws to set aside the election of the only member we have in the National Assembly. Once again, it was secretly filed by the Ijaws, and through our efforts we joined the case and are contesting it, even though we have our reservations about the Honourable Member.
As we speak, there are more than ten pending cases secretly filed by the Ijaws, all seeking to alter one aspect or another of our existing land ownership rights.
In all these cases, we appear as Defendants, not as Claimants.
CONCLUSION:
Those who claim to be friends and business partners with the Ijaws, in the name of Itsekiri unity, need to explain to us what they mean by “peace,” and how defending our land and our people has suddenly become synonymous with troublemaking.
Let us not prioritize immediate gains over the destinies of generations to come.
Let us remember Edmund Burke when he admonished us thus: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”.
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