Warri Political Interest Forum (WPIF) Reaffirms Itsekiri Sovereignty over Sahara (Ugborodo) Land and Denounces Gbaramatu Female Graduates Association’s Unfounded Claims

Warri Political Interest Forum (WPIF) an Itsekiri youth based socio-political cum cultural pressure group issues this statement to place on record its unequivocal condemnation of the recent press briefing convened by the Gbaramatu Female Graduates Association, wherein the Association laid claim to the tract known as “Sahara” in Ugborodo, Warri South‑West Local Government Area of Delta State. The Forum regards this pronouncement as a deliberate aberration and distortion of established history and an unwholesome attempt to unsettle the peace that has long been in existence for some time now.

It is a matter of public record and legal fact; and indeed of immutable tradition, that Sahara has remained within the ancestral domain of Ugborodo, a community whose Itsekiri lineage stretches back centuries before colonial incursion into the region . This possession is evidenced not merely by oral tradition but by uninterrupted occupation, continuous usage, and a corpus of judicial decisions that have consistently upheld Itsekiri title to the land. The Forum stresses that such longevity and legal affirmation render any contrary assertion both baseless and inimical to the rule of law.

The courts have spoken decisively on this matter. In Suit No. W/30/1962, the Itsekiri people of Omadino secured a judgment affirming their title to Okerenghigho, a decision later upheld on appeal. The Supreme Court, in SC/294/70, dismissed Ijaw appeals that sought to overturn that verdict, thereby confirming that the lands in question fall squarely within Itsekiri territory. Equally instructive are the rulings in Ogbe‑Ijoh v. Itsekiri and Babine Ereku & Ors v. Osuke Akonu & Ors (Suit No. W/124/76), which held that Ijaw settlers in Gbaramatu were permitted to reside on the land solely at the sufferance of the Itsekiri sovereigns of Ugborodo, not by any inherent right of ownership.

Beyond the judiciary, respected Itsekiri Leaders of Thought have long maintained that the Ijaw inhabitants of Gbaramatu are customary tenants under the overlordship of the Olu of Warri. This position has been reinforced by recent commentary from books, legal documents and articles which clarified that Gbaramatu never possessed a historic kingdom and that its purported kingship was only instituted in 2017. Such authoritative voices underscore the absence of any credible historical or legal foundation for the Association’s claims.

WPIF therefore views the Association’s narrative as not only intellectually bankrupt but also a potential catalyst for unrest and crisis. The Forum calls upon the Delta State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, and all relevant security agencies to intervene promptly, to safeguard the peace, and to hold accountable those who peddle falsehoods under the guise of activism. The State must reaffirm the settled legal order and ensure that no group is permitted to destabilise the region through revisionist propaganda.

In light of the foregoing, the Warri Political Interest Forum reaffirms, in the strongest possible terms, that Sahara remains an integral part of Ugborodo’s traditional domain and that the Itsekiri people will defend their ancestral heritage with unwavering resolve. The Forum stands ready to cooperate with authorities to protect the rights of the Itsekiri community and to preserve the hard‑won peace of Warri South‑West.

Signed

Comr. Youngreen Abugewa
President WPIF

Eboma Tuoyo Emeka
Secretary WPIF