THE ABORIGINAL INDIGENES OF MODERN DAY WARRI: OKERE COMMUNITY’S POSITION ON THE PROPOSED INEC WARD DELINEATION IN WARRI SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF DELTA STATE

A Press Address by the Indigenous People of Okere Community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

OKERE COMMUNITY’S FOUNDATION SINCE 1497 AD.

Okere Community was founded by a Benin War Lord called Ekpenede, Ekpen for short since 1497 AD being the first and largest community in Warri metropolis as can be seen historically, culturally and through landmarks till date.

THE LEADERSHIP AND THE ENTIRE MEMBERS OF OKERE COMMUNITY REJECT INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC’s) PROPOSAL ON THE DELINEATION OF WARDS AND POLLING UNITS IN WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY GRA WARD IN WARRI SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF DELTA STATE IN PARTICULAR

The ceding of reasonable units in GRA Ward in Okere Community, Warri South LGA to the Ijaws of Ogbe Ijaw in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State as contained in the INEC proposed report is a grave injustice meted on the good and peaceful people of Okere Community.

We must State unequivocally, that we are not against the Supreme Court ordered polling units and Wards delineation but the fraudulent means by INEC despite the Supreme Court judgement that barred the Ijaw people of Ogbe Ijaw from laying claim of ownership in Warri metropolis.

THE LEGAL POSITION

The facts are as clear as a rising sun, that for decades, judicial pronouncements, affirmed that the Ijaws have no land ownership rights in Warri urban or Warri South LGA of Delta State.

We strongly take solace in the following court judgements:

(a) In suit No W/148/56 instituted by Chief Isuokumo Oloiki and others (for themselves and on behalf of Ijaw settlers in Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri Division) against Itsekiri Communal Land Trustee & Anor.

In the action, the Ijaws claimed a declaration of title to most of Warri Division including Warri township. After much of the legal arguments and seeing the futility of their actions, the plaintiff, that is the Ijaws, eventually decided to discontinue the suit, and Rhodes Vivour J delivered a judgement part of which reads as follows:

“On the 9th of July 1964, this court delivered it’s ruling refusing the plaintiffs application to discontinue after the trial date has been fixed to the knowledge of the parties. The plaintiffs have now asked for leave to discontinue under order 28 Rule 2 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules Cap. 44 Laws of Western Nigeria 1959…”

(b) In suit No SC/450/65 has this to say; that the Ijaws of Ogbe Ijoh should never say anything about ownership of Lands in Warri Division.

In suit No W/277/2012 Chief E.F Esisi (Ogieboro of Okere) & others – Claimants/Respondant and the Governor of Delta State & others – Defendant/Respondent and Dr(Barr) Clarkson Aribogha Applicants/Parties seeking to be joined as 4th to 6th Defendants.

Honourable Justice Marshall Mukoro, the then Administrative Judge of Warri High Court who presided over the matter and former Chief Judge of Delta State in his ruling states: That for this court as presently constituted under the 1999 Constitution and other laws enabling it to dispense law and equity. Any attempt to go against the ruling of Warri High Court and it’s affirmation by the Supreme Court is tantamount to JUDICIAL RASCALITY, RECKLESSNESS AND AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL VOYAGE. Public policy demand that there shall be AN END TO LITIGATION.

I find merit in the opposition to the application for joinder. The applicants (the Ijaws) no longer have the quality of being described as necessary parties over the subject matter. The application for joinder filed on 27th November, 2012 lacks merit and that being so, it shall be dismissed. So be it.

As if the above court judgments are not enough, in suit No CA/AS/154/2024. The Court of Appeal dismissed the Appeal filed by HRM Monbene III, the Ama Okosu of Ogbe Ijoh from collecting royalty from Warri South. The Court again reiterated that the Ijaws have been barred from claiming land ownership in Warri.

OUR POSITION AS OKERE PEOPLE

Flowing from the above SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT AND RULINGS an inch of our lands (GRA Ward in Warri South LGA of Delta State) can not be ceded to Ogbe Ijoh. That the lying and being situated in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

We call on the Federal Government, the Delta State Government, INEC, the NSA and other government agencies to uphold the rule of law which guarantees due process and safeguards individual, group and liberties such as freedom of speech and expression, from government over reach.

Thank you Gentlemen of the Press!

Long Live Itsekiri Nation!

Long Live Okere Community!

Chief Kofi Edomi Kartey
The Abolujiyan of Warri Kingdom
Ag. Ogieboro of okere community