{"id":3609,"date":"2025-06-26T09:42:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T09:42:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/06\/26\/ownership-of-warri-group-sends-open-letter-to-governor-oborevwori-calls-for-correction-of-title-of-itsekiri-monarch-from-olu-of-warri-to-olu-of-itsekiri\/"},"modified":"2025-06-26T09:48:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T09:48:12","slug":"ownership-of-warri-group-sends-open-letter-to-governor-oborevwori-calls-for-correction-of-title-of-itsekiri-monarch-from-olu-of-warri-to-olu-of-itsekiri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/06\/26\/ownership-of-warri-group-sends-open-letter-to-governor-oborevwori-calls-for-correction-of-title-of-itsekiri-monarch-from-olu-of-warri-to-olu-of-itsekiri\/","title":{"rendered":"OWNERSHIP OF WARRI: Group Sends Open Letter To Governor Oborevwori, Calls For Correction Of Title Of Itsekiri Monarch From \u201cOlu Of Warri To Olu Of Itsekiri\u201c"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u200e<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Uche Alvin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE
\u200eRE: The Urgent Need to Correct the Misleading Title \u201cOlu of Warri\u201d to \u201cOlu of Itsekiri\u201d or \u201cOlu of Iwerre\u201d or \u201cOlu of Ode-Itsekiri\u201d
\u200e
\u200eYour Excellency,
\u200eRt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori
\u200eExecutive Governor of Delta State
\u200eGovernment House, Asaba
\u200eDelta State
\u200eSir,
\u200e
\u200eWe write to you with deep concern and patriotic intent as indigenous stakeholders and citizens of Warri Federal Constituency, comprising the Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities. This letter is a call for historical correction, legal justice and sustainable peace in our beloved Delta State.
\u200e
\u200eTHE MISLEADING TITLE \u201cOLU OF WARRI\u201d AND ITS IMPACT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200eIt is an undeniable historical fact that the traditional ruler of the Itsekiri people was originally and appropriately titled \u201cOlu of Itsekiri.\u201d This reflected his authority solely over the Itsekiri ethnic group and their settlements, particularly in Ode-Itsekiri (Iwerre). However, in 1952, during the regional administration led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the title was unilaterally changed to \u201cOlu of Warri\u201d without the consent of the other indigenous ethnic nationalities of Warri.
\u200eThis politically motivated alteration was done to elevate Itsekiri influence over the territories and people of Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri Federal Constituency, who have never been subjects of the Olu and who possess their own kingship institutions, territories and historical identity.
\u200e
\u200eTHE PROBLEM AND ITS DAMAGING EFFECTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200eSince the unauthorized change of this traditional title, the Itsekiri nation has used it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. \u200eTo falsely project the Olu of Warri as the ruler of all Warri peoples;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. \u200eTo propagate the harmful narrative that Ijaws and Urhobos are \u201ctenants\u201d or \u201cslaves\u201d in Warri, an idea that is not only untrue but also offensive and divisive;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. \u200eTo cause confusion among external observers, who now wrongly believe that the Olu is the paramount ruler of Warri as a whole, a claim that has no legal, cultural or territorial basis.
    \u200eThese actions continue to create tension, undermine peaceful coexistence and amount to a gross misrepresentation of the multi-ethnic identity of Warri Federal Constituency.
    \u200e
    \u200eLEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    \u200eThe continued use of the title \u201cOlu of Warri\u201d is also in clear violation of the Delta State Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law, which requires that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. \u200eTraditional titles must reflect the ethnic and territorial jurisdiction of the titleholder;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. \u200eNo traditional ruler can be imposed or presented as sovereign over multiple distinct ethnic groups without legal and cultural consent;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. \u200eThe Traditional Rulers Council must operate in a manner that fosters harmony and respects the diversity of the State.
      \u200e
      \u200eOUR DEMANDS: RESTORATION OF THE TRUTH<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      \u200eIn light of the above, and in the interest of truth, fairness and unity, we respectfully urge Your Excellency to take the following actions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. \u200eDirect the Delta State House of Assembly to initiate amendments to the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law of Delta State to correct the erroneous and politically manipulated title from \u201cOlu of Warri\u201d to \u201cOlu of Itsekiri,\u201d or \u201cOlu of Iwerre,\u201d or \u201cOlu of Ode-Itsekiri,\u201d in accordance with historical truth and cultural boundaries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. \u200eEnsure that all references to the Olu\u2019s title in government documents, communications and traditional councils reflect this correction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. \u200eCaution traditional institutions and media within and outside Delta State against promoting or reinforcing this false title in ways that undermine the dignity of other indigenous groups of the Warri Federal Constituency.
        \u200e
        \u200eA CALL FOR TRUTH AND PEACE<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        \u200eYour Excellency, this appeal is not an attempt to create ethnic division but a call for historical accuracy, constitutional justice and peacebuilding. If these issues are not addressed proactively, they risk escalating into avoidable conflicts, fueled by feelings of dispossession, marginalization and ethnic misrepresentation.
        \u200eLet us act now, not only in the name of history but for the sake of peaceful coexistence, good governance and the unity of Delta State.
        \u200e
        \u200eCONCLUSION<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        We affirm that Warri belongs to its three indigenous ethnic nationalities: the Ijaw, the Urhobo and the Itsekiri. No one group has the exclusive right to assume sovereign authority over the others.
        \u200eWe trust in your commitment to equity, justice and peaceful governance. This issue affects the dignity and future of the Ijaw and Urhobo peoples of Warri, and we believe it is time to end the lies, correct the records and move forward as a truly inclusive state.
        \u200eWe await your urgent and positive response.
        \u200e
        \u200eRespectfully,
        \u200e
        \u200eEbiowei Kuro
        \u200eOvo Rukevwe
        Efemena Brume
        \u200eOwei-Keme Olotu
        \u200eConcerned Citizens of Warri Federal Constituency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        \u200e By Uche Alvin OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE\u200eRE:…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3610,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[13],"tags":[1018,1017],"class_list":["post-3609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-calls-for-correction-of-title-of-itsekiri-monarch-from-olu-of-warri-to-olu-of-itsekiri","tag-ownership-of-warri-group-sends-open-letter-to-governor-oborevwori"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/img_0271-5-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C806&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4786,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/09\/06\/group-calls-for-correction-of-itsekiri-monarchs-title-from-olu-of-warri-to-olu-of-itsekiri\/","url_meta":{"origin":3609,"position":0},"title":"Group Calls For Correction Of Itsekiri Monarch\u2019s Title From \u2018Olu Of Warri\u2019 To Olu Of Itsekiri","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"September 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR BOLA AHMED TINUBU,GCFR,PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA. 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