{"id":4246,"date":"2025-07-03T06:50:23","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T06:50:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/03\/olu-of-warri-title-indigenous-ijaws-and-urhobos-writes-open-letter-to-tinubu-inec-international-communities-demands-for-correction-of-title-of-olu-of-warri-to-olu-of-itsekiri\/"},"modified":"2025-07-03T06:50:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T06:50:23","slug":"olu-of-warri-title-indigenous-ijaws-and-urhobos-writes-open-letter-to-tinubu-inec-international-communities-demands-for-correction-of-title-of-olu-of-warri-to-olu-of-itsekiri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/03\/olu-of-warri-title-indigenous-ijaws-and-urhobos-writes-open-letter-to-tinubu-inec-international-communities-demands-for-correction-of-title-of-olu-of-warri-to-olu-of-itsekiri\/","title":{"rendered":"OLU OF WARRI TITLE: Indigenous Ijaws And Urhobos Writes Open Letter To Tinubu, INEC, International Communities, Demands For Correction Of Title Of Olu Of Warri To Olu Of Itsekiri"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU GCFR, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, INEC, AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RE: THE URGENT NEED TO CORRECT THE HISTORICAL MISNOMER CALLED \u201cOLU OF WARRI\u201d AND RESTORE DIGNITY TO THE INDIGENOUS IJAW AND URHOBO PEOPLES OF WARRI<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Excellency,
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR,
Members of the Federal Executive Council,
The National Assembly,
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),
National Security Adviser,
International Human Rights and Democratic Stakeholders,
And all lovers of truth, justice and peaceful coexistence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With utmost respect and a deep commitment to truth, we, the indigenous peoples of Warri, the Ijaws and Urhobos, write this solemn appeal with a large heart of freedom and a historical burden that must no longer be ignored. This is not a letter of resentment, but a call to correct a colonial-era and post-independence error that has caused continuous division, marginalization and distortion of historical identity in the Warri region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is time to confront the truth. The title \u201cOlu of Warri\u201d is a misrepresentation of both geography and demography. It is a political title, not a traditional reality, crafted under the influence of the colonial administrators and later affirmed by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo during the Western Regional era, without consultation or consent of the Ijaw and Urhobo peoples. It has since been weaponized as a tool of cultural supremacy, historical falsehood and electoral manipulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Olu of Warri is not and has never been a sovereign over the entire Warri region. He is the traditional ruler of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality alone, a small but respected ethnic group that we, the Ijaw and Urhobo, welcomed into our midst centuries ago. But hospitality must never be mistaken for subjugation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historically, the Ijaw and Urhobo were the first inhabitants of the Warri axis. This is clearly documented in colonial records, ethnographic studies and oral tradition. The land now called Warri was first settled by the Ijaw people, particularly along the creeks and riverbanks, with the Urhobo occupying the upland hinterlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sir P. A. Talbot, in his 1926 classic The Peoples of Southern Nigeria, acknowledged the Ijaw and Urhobo presence across what is now Delta South and Delta Central long before any mention of Itsekiri rulership. He recorded that Ijaws dominated the riverine delta and were the earliest boatmen, merchants and settlers along the coast. He further noted that the Urhobo country extended down to the Warri River, long before the 15th-century migration of the Benin prince, Ginuwa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Hubbard, in Sobo of the Niger Delta (1938), detailed how the Agbarha Urhobos crossed the Warri River, not under Itsekiri rule, but by mutual understanding and local alliance, settling where they now call Agbassa. These settlements had no Itsekiri sovereign authority and were organized around Urhobo indigenous systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early Dutch, Portuguese, and British maps of the 16th to 19th centuries refer to the territories as \u201cWari\/Ware,\u201d drawn from the Ijaw word \u201cWare,\u201d meaning settlement or house. The colonial mispronunciation evolved into \u201cWarri,\u201d not from \u201cIwere\u201d as the Itsekiri falsely claim. This is not merely a linguistic error; it is a deliberate hijack of cultural identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sir Richard Burton in his 1863 journal Wanderings in West Africa, confirms that the Urhobo lands (Sobo country) were located directly inland from Warri, and the Itsekiris were scattered riverine groups with no evidence of centralized monarchy extending over the indigenous Ijaw and Urhobo. He observed, clearly, that Warri was a day\u2019s paddle away from the Sobo territory, meaning the Itsekiris were never indigenous rulers of the land but fringe settlers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even the founding story of the Itsekiri monarchy, built on the tale of Ginuwa, tells of a Benin fugitive who fled after committing abominations, arriving at the coast and being harbored by the Ijaw people. It was the Ijaws who gave him land and a wife, allowing him to establish a small following, not a conquest, not a kingdom over others. You do not become king over your hosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Olu of Warri title was institutionalized only in the 20th century, and notably in 1952, when the Western Regional Government led by Awolowo gazetted the title as Olu of Warri. This act was done without the consent or input of the Ijaw and Urhobo peoples and since then, it has been used to falsely claim overlordship over territories the Olu neither owns nor controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This title has caused needless conflict. It has emboldened a small group to manipulate electoral boundaries, inflate population numbers, a move that is both disrespectful and historically illegitimate. Let it be stated categorically: the Olu has no sovereign right to walk into Ijaw or Urhobo territories without the express permission of our kings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Itsekiri population is grossly overstated. On national television, Amaju Pinnick, a proud Itsekiri son, admitted that the Itsekiri are fewer than one million people nationwide. During the 2023 elections, when INEC deployed BVAS machines, entire Itsekiri-dominated units turned up empty. Yet, they continue to wield disproportionate political influence over a land they never owned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ijaw and Urhobo people are not asking for war. We are not fighting for supremacy. We are simply calling for the restoration of truth, respect and dignity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are therefore calling on the Federal Government to immediately correct this long-standing political and historical injustice. The title \u201cOlu of Warri\u201d should be officially changed to what it rightfully is \u201cOlu of Itsekiri.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stand strong and immediately publish the final ward delineation results for Warri Federal Constituency. This process must not be hijacked by threats, bribery or historical blackmail. Demography must dictate democracy not manipulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a watershed moment in our history. We are calling on well-meaning Nigerians, international observers, traditional rulers, civil society and human rights defenders to rise up and support the restoration of historical truth and equity in Warri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We, the Ijaw and Urhobo peoples, stand not in bitterness but in courage.
Not in hatred, but in hope.
Not in fear, but in freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let the truth be told. Let history be corrected. Let justice be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signed,
Chief Fitness Efe
Chairman<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief Tamuno Mark
Secretary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For: Indigenous Sons and Daughters of the Ijaw and Urhobo Peoples of Warri
For Truth, Justice and Historical Redress<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Uche Alvin OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU GCFR, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, INEC,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3866,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_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},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[398,14],"tags":[1088,1066,1087,1086],"class_list":["post-4246","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-opinion","tag-demands-for-correction-of-title-of-olu-of-warri-to-olu-of-itsekiri","tag-inec","tag-international-community","tag-olu-of-warri-title-indigenous-ijaws-and-urhobos-writes-open-letter-to-tinubu"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/img_0324-1.jpg?fit=318%2C159&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4234,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/02\/breaking-coalition-of-ijaw-urhobo-group-sends-open-letter-to-president-tinubu-nsa-inec-international-communities-over-alleged-meeting-between-olu-of-itsekiri-and-first-lady-oluremi-tinubu-to-dera\/","url_meta":{"origin":4246,"position":0},"title":"BREAKING: Coalition Of Ijaw, Urhobo Group Sends Open Letter To President Tinubu, NSA, INEC, International Communities Over Alleged Meeting Between Olu Of Itsekiri And First Lady Oluremi Tinubu To Derail The Democratic Process In The Ward Delineation","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Esther David OPEN PROTEST LETTER TO THE PRESIDENCY, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, INEC, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC RE: UNHOLY ALLIANCE TO DERAIL DEMOCRACY \u2013 REPORTS OF SECRET MEETING BETWEEN THE OLU OF WARRI AND FIRST LADY REMI TINUBU TO SABOTAGE INEC'S WARD DELINEATION PROCESS GOING ON NOW\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0460-2-1.jpg?fit=924%2C506&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0460-2-1.jpg?fit=924%2C506&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0460-2-1.jpg?fit=924%2C506&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0460-2-1.jpg?fit=924%2C506&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4986,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/11\/06\/group-writes-open-letter-to-fg-nsa-calls-for-reversion-of-olu-of-warri-title-to-olu-of-itsekiri\/","url_meta":{"origin":4246,"position":1},"title":"Group Writes Open Letter To FG, NSA\ufffc\ufffc, Calls For Reversion Of Olu Of Warri Title To Olu Of Itsekiri","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"November 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Esther David \u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022The Group Charges President Tinubu To Compel INEC To Implement The Supreme Court Ordered Warri Federal Constituency Ward Delineation Report OPEN LETTER FROM THE CONCERNED ELDERS OF WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER (NSA), THE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE Subject: On the urgent\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0568-1.jpg?fit=790%2C488&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0568-1.jpg?fit=790%2C488&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0568-1.jpg?fit=790%2C488&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0568-1.jpg?fit=790%2C488&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3609,"url":"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\/","url_meta":{"origin":4246,"position":2},"title":"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","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"June 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u200e By Uche Alvin 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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/img_0271-5-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C806&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/img_0271-5-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C806&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/img_0271-5-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C806&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/img_0271-5-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C806&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/img_0271-5-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C806&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4412,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/14\/delineation-blackmail-how-the-itsekiris-are-holding-democracy-hostage___rights-group\/","url_meta":{"origin":4246,"position":3},"title":"Delineation Blackmail: How The Itsekiris Are Holding Democracy Hostage___Rights Group","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin PRESS BRIEFINGIssued by: Ijaw Stakeholders of Warri Federal ConstituencyDate: July 14, 2025 Title: THE LANDLORDS OF PROPAGANDA: WHY THE ITSEKIRIS NEED TO LIE TO EXIST Subtitle: The Delineation Blackmail \u2013 How the Itsekiris Are Holding Democracy Hostage in Warri Fellow Nigerians, the time has come for us\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0555-2-1.jpg?fit=1002%2C703&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0555-2-1.jpg?fit=1002%2C703&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0555-2-1.jpg?fit=1002%2C703&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0555-2-1.jpg?fit=1002%2C703&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"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":4246,"position":4},"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. A Call for Legislative Motion on the Title of Olu of Warri In the interest of peace, unity, and justice in Delta State, I call on our elected representatives to urgently move a motion\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1212-1.jpg?fit=402%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4315,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/06\/foremost-rights-group-writes-nigerian-government-inec-says-federal-governments-continuous-recognition-of-olu-of-itsekiri-as-overlord-of-warri-must-stop\/","url_meta":{"origin":4246,"position":5},"title":"Foremost Rights Group Writes Nigerian Government, INEC, Says Federal Government\u2019s Continuous Recognition Of Olu Of Itsekiri As Overlord Of Warri Must Stop","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin OPEN LETTER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, INEC AND THE CONSCIENCE OF THE NATION RE: THE OLU OF ITSEKIRI CANNOT CONTINUE TO BEAR A FALSE TITLE Subthemes:Colonial Cartography and Ethnic Favoritism: How the British Weaponized the Olu StoolINEC and the Struggle for Electoral Justice in Warri\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0568-1.jpg?fit=790%2C488&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0568-1.jpg?fit=790%2C488&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0568-1.jpg?fit=790%2C488&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0568-1.jpg?fit=790%2C488&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-16u","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4246","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4246"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4246\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4246"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4246"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}