Warri Youths for Good Governance (WYGG) Holds Delta State Government Responsible for Rising Tensions in Warri

PRESS RELEASE

The leadership of Warri Youth for Good Governance (WYGG), a youth based political pressure group in Warri has called out the Delta State Government over its silence and inaction in the face of ongoing unrest in Warri and its environs. In a statement released earlier today, the group expressed serious concerns about what it described as “a failure of governance” in addressing the misrepresentation and misuse of traditional titles across Warri’s three local government areas.

According to WYGG, the root cause of the tension is the arbitrary creation and assumption of traditional titles by non-Itsekiri communities in a manner that contradicts the officially gazetted laws of Delta State on traditional institutions. The group stressed that Warri Kingdom, as officially recognized is historically and legally associated exclusively with the Itsekiri people, under the rulership of the Olu of Warri.

Quoting the Delta State Government’s gazetted chart on traditional rulers and their domains, WYGG pointed out the following breakdown:

Warri South Local Government:

1. Warri Kingdom – Itsekiri – Olu of Warri

2. Okere – Urhobo – Orosuen of Okere-Urhobo

3. Agbassa – Urhobo – Ovie of Agbassa

Warri South-West Local Government:

1. Warri Kingdom – Itsekiri – Olu of Warri

2. Ogbe-Ijoh – Ijaw – Amakosu of Ogbe-Ijoh

3. Gbaramatu – Ijaw – Pere of Gbaramatu

Warri North Local Government:

1. Warri Kingdom – Itsekiri – Olu of Warri

2. Egbema – Ijaw – Agadagba of Egbema

Based on this legal framework, Warri Youths for Good Governance (WYGG) emphasized that only the Itsekiri monarch, the Olu of Warri, is officially recognized with the title bearing “Warri.” No Urhobo or Ijaw monarch in any of the three LGAs is legally or traditionally assigned the name “Warri” in their title according to the Delta State Gazette.

> “This is not a matter of the Nigerian Constitution but one of state law. The Delta State Government must uphold its own laws. Every tribe should maintain their officially recognized titles. Anyone bearing a title not assigned by the law should be sanctioned,” the statement said.

WYGG further warned that the failure of the Delta State Government to enforce its traditional institution laws has led to multiple conflicts and increasing ethnic tension in the Warri area. They insist that to restore peace and order, the Government must ensure that only titles recognized in the state gazette are used, and any breach should be met with appropriate legal action.

> “Only the Olu of Warri is gazetted with the title ‘Warri’. Other monarchs must adhere to their designated titles. If the the government remains silent, then it becomes complicit in the growing unrest,” the statement concluded.

Signed

Eboma Tuoyo Michael
(President)
Warri Youths for Good Governance (WYGG)

Toju Ogharanduku
(General Secretary)
Warri Youths for Good Governance (WYGG)

Okotie Temisanren
Public Relations Officer(PRO)
Warri Youths for Good Governance (WYGG)