{"id":4663,"date":"2025-08-16T12:47:21","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T12:47:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/16\/re-falsehood-about-warri-north-and-the-historical-truth-of-ijaw-majority-in-egbema-kingdom\/"},"modified":"2025-08-16T12:47:21","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T12:47:21","slug":"re-falsehood-about-warri-north-and-the-historical-truth-of-ijaw-majority-in-egbema-kingdom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/16\/re-falsehood-about-warri-north-and-the-historical-truth-of-ijaw-majority-in-egbema-kingdom\/","title":{"rendered":"RE: FALSEHOOD ABOUT WARRI NORTH AND THE HISTORICAL TRUTH OF IJAW MAJORITY IN EGBEMA KINGDOM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

OPEN LETTER TO THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RE: FALSEHOOD ABOUT WARRI NORTH AND THE HISTORICAL TRUTH OF IJAW MAJORITY IN EGBEMA KINGDOM<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From: Ijaw Stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency
Date: [16\/8\/2025]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Introduction: Government Must Not Be a Conduit of Falsehood<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Dear Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State,
    We read with outrage the recent misrepresentation by your administration claiming that Warri North Local Government Area is \u201cpredominantly inhabited by the Itsekiri.\u201d This is false, misleading, and a reckless distortion of history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The 1999 Constitution binds every arm of government to truth and equity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    S.14(2)(b): \u201cthe security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    S.42(1): forbids ethnic discrimination in state action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    S.17(2)(a),(d): demands equality and forbids exploitation of human and natural resources against communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Your government\u2019s post violates these provisions by attempting to erase the majority status of the Ijaw people of Egbema Kingdom in Warri North.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Historical Truth: Warri North is Dual, Not Exclusive<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Warri North is made up of two traditional kingdoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. Egbema Kingdom (Ijaw)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Itsekiri Kingdom<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        It is therefore a constitutional and historical fraud to present the LGA as if it belongs exclusively to the Itsekiri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        British Intelligence Reports (1936, 1951) confirm that Egbema Ijaws constitute the majority population in Warri North.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Early European accounts such as Pacheco Pereira (1505) describe Egbema and other Ijaw groups as dominant along the Benin and Escravos Rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Even colonial census records (1921, 1931, 1952, 1963) confirm Ijaw numerical dominance across Warri territories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. Geography and Settlement Facts<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          The physical landmass of Warri North betrays this false narrative:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Egbema Ijaw communities (e.g., Opuama, Tsekelewu, Ogbudugbudu, Ogbinbiri and others) occupy vast swamp and riverine territories of the LGA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          The Itsekiri communities, though significant, do not outnumber the Egbema Ijaws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Court records and colonial leases show Ijaw communities consistently recognized as landowners, while others were settlers or tenants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. The Fraud of Manufactured Itsekiri Majority<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            For decades, colonial distortions and post-independence manipulation inflated Itsekiri status. The fraudulent \u201c6\u20134\u201d ward allocation (six wards to Itsekiri, four to Ijaw) exemplifies this injustice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The Supreme Court in Timinimi v. INEC (SC\/CV\/1033\/2023) has already pronounced this structure unconstitutional, unjust, and illegal. INEC has verified through fieldwork in the creeks and communities. The only step left is publication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. Our Warning to the State Government<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              Governor Oborevwori, government cannot function on falsehood. To continue to project Itsekiri exclusivity in Warri North is to deliberately incite tension between communities and to disregard constitutional order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              As Justice Nnamani once ruled: \u201cEquity will not allow the law to be used as an instrument of fraud.\u201d By pushing a false narrative, your administration risks being complicit in the very fraud equity forbids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              1. Our Demand: Tell the Truth and Obey the Law<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              2. Delta State Government: Retract and correct your false claim. Acknowledge the dual reality of Warri North, Egbema Ijaw and Itsekiri.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              3. Federal Government: Direct INEC to publish the Supreme Court\u2013ordered delineation result without further delay.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              4. Public and International Community: Reject state-sponsored propaganda that erases the Ijaw majority and sustains political fraud.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              5. Conclusion: Truth vs Falsehood<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                Ijaw (Egbema): Majority, ancestral landowners of Warri North.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Itsekiri: Minority, co-inhabitants but not exclusive claimants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                The Supreme Court has spoken. INEC has verified. Only publication remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                As Thomas Paine warned: \u201cA body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.\u201d INEC\u2019s silence and your government\u2019s propaganda will not bury the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Signed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Chief Tiemopere Joshua
                (President)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Chief Ebikeke T. Goodstime
                (Secretary)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Ijaw Stakeholders of Warri Federal Constituency<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                CC:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                The Presidency<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                The National Assembly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                The National Security Adviser<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                United Nations, AU, EU<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                By Uche Alvin OPEN LETTER TO THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT RE: FALSEHOOD ABOUT WARRI NORTH…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4662,"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":[1366],"class_list":["post-4663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-re-falsehood-about-warri-north-and-the-historical-truth-of-ijaw-majority-in-egbema-kingdom"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1923-1.jpg?fit=867%2C581&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4677,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/16\/group-writes-protest-letter-to-delta-state-government-over-reckless-publication-on-warri-north-lga-majority-status\/","url_meta":{"origin":4663,"position":0},"title":"Group Writes Protest Letter To Delta State Government Over Reckless Publication On Warri North LGA Majority Status","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin PROTEST LETTER TO THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT RE: YOUR RECKLESS LIES ABOUT WARRI NORTH MAJORITY STATUS From: Warri Constituency LegacyDate: 16\/8\/2025 Governor Oborevwori, your government has disgraced itself with the reckless lie on Facebook claiming Warri North is \u201cpredominantly Itsekiri.\u201d That is not governance, it is dangerous\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4678,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/16\/group-writes-protest-letter-to-delta-state-government-over-reckless-publication-on-warri-north-lga-majority-status-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":4663,"position":1},"title":"Group Writes Protest Letter To Delta State Government Over Reckless Publication On Warri North LGA Majority Status","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin PROTEST LETTER TO THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT RE: YOUR RECKLESS LIES ABOUT WARRI NORTH MAJORITY STATUS From: Warri Constituency LegacyDate: 16\/8\/2025 Governor Oborevwori, your government has disgraced itself with the reckless lie on Facebook claiming Warri North is \u201cpredominantly Itsekiri.\u201d That is not governance, it is dangerous\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4665,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/16\/rights-advocate-timi-julius-igbiriki-petitions-delta-state-over-misleading-publication-made-by-the-state-government\/","url_meta":{"origin":4663,"position":2},"title":"Rights Advocate Timi Julius Igbiriki Petitions Delta State Government Over Misleading Publication Made By The State Government","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin PETITION TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE ON THE MISLEADING PUBLICATION BY THE OFFICIAL DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT FACEBOOK PAGE His Excellency,The Executive Governor,Delta State Government House,Asaba, Delta State. 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Your Excellency, I, Timi Julius Igbiriki, a concerned citizen of Warri North Local Government Area and an indigene\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\/08\/img_1925-1.jpg?fit=201%2C251&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4686,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/16\/re-your-reckless-lies-on-warri-north-lga-majority-status-is-an-affront-to-history-peace-and-justice___says-rights-group-to-delta-state-government-in-a-protest-letter\/","url_meta":{"origin":4663,"position":4},"title":"RE: Your Reckless Lies On Warri North LGA Majority Status Is An Affront To History, Peace And Justice___Says Rights Group To Delta State Government In A Protest Letter","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin PROTEST LETTER TO THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT RE: YOUR RECKLESS LIES ABOUT WARRI NORTH MAJORITY STATUS IS AN AFFRONT TO HISTORY, PEACE, AND JUSTICE From: Warri Constituency LegacyDate: [16\/8\/2025] Governor Oborevwori, Your Government Has Disgraced Itself We rise in anger to condemn the shameless falsehood your government\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\/08\/img_1939-1.jpg?fit=216%2C234&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4669,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/16\/warri-north-lga-egbema-ijaws-demand-public-apology-from-delta-state-government-over-misleading-post-made-by-the-government\/","url_meta":{"origin":4663,"position":5},"title":"WARRI NORTH LGA: Egbema Ijaws Demand Public Apology From Delta State Government Over Misleading Post Made By The Government","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Esther David Due to mounting pressure from concerned citizens and stakeholders, the official Facebook page of the Delta State Government has taken down its earlier post concerning Warri North Local Government Area. This development clearly shows that falsehood can never and will never stand. 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