{"id":4826,"date":"2025-09-18T08:28:53","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T08:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/09\/18\/just-in-ijaw-stakeholders-group-urge-president-tinubu-to-prevail-on-governor-sheriff-oborevwori-over-rising-tension-in-warri\/"},"modified":"2025-09-18T08:28:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T08:28:53","slug":"just-in-ijaw-stakeholders-group-urge-president-tinubu-to-prevail-on-governor-sheriff-oborevwori-over-rising-tension-in-warri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/09\/18\/just-in-ijaw-stakeholders-group-urge-president-tinubu-to-prevail-on-governor-sheriff-oborevwori-over-rising-tension-in-warri\/","title":{"rendered":"JUST IN: Ijaw Stakeholders Group Urge President Tinubu To Prevail On Governor Sheriff Oborevwori Over Rising Tension In Warri"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

The Warri Ijaw Stakeholders, under the leadership of Chairman Tariwei Goodman Ebi and Secretary Ebiwie Godfrey, have raised a strong alarm over rising tensions in Warri. The group is urgently calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to intervene before the situation spirals into another bloody conflict similar to the Warri crisis of 1997\u20132003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stakeholders revealed that Micah Polo, an Itsekiri man and former UK Army Reserve officer, was recently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Asaba for allegedly procuring arms to destabilize Warri Federal Constituency. According to credible reports, the DSS seized 57 AK-47 rifles, 6 pump-action shotguns, and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition in connection with the arrest. The group further alleged that the Olu of Warri has been implicated as a key sponsor of the arms procurement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also warned that Itsekiri actors have been actively working to stall the release of the Independent National Electoral Commission\u2019s (INEC) ward and unit delineation report, stressing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThe Itsekiris have been looking for ways to make sure that the INEC ward and unit delineation report is never released. While we wait patiently, the Federal Government must understand that what they think the Itsekiris can do, we can do triple. We must not be pushed to the wall.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The stakeholders raised further concerns about political bias and alleged federal backing, drawing parallels to the 1997\u20132003 crisis. Their statement reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe are beginning to suspect that they are getting backing from you, Mr. President, because the same support was given to them then by the Nigerian Army, and the president at that time was also a Yoruba man \u2014 Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Today, you are a Yoruba man, and your wife is an Itsekiri, which they have been bragging about as proof of her support. The then governor was an Urhobo man but had strong Itsekiri ties through his mother, and he did everything possible to ensure his cousin, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, succeeded him. Today, the present governor is also an Urhobo man. We do not believe this is a coincidence.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The group recalled the resilience of the Ijaw people during the earlier Warri crisis:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe are not scared because we faced it before, when the Itsekiris were aided and protected. Yet our gods \u2014 the supreme Egbesu \u2014 stood with us, and the outcome is well known.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Emphasizing that their call for peace is not a sign of weakness, they continued,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe are preaching peace not because we are weak or afraid of defending ourselves. Mr. President, you must act before matters escalate. The Ijaw nation has never been defeated, and it will not happen in our time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The stakeholders closed by invoking the memory of the late Major Isaac Adaka Boro, who gave his life for the liberation and dignity of the Niger Delta people, underscoring that the Ijaw struggle for justice is deeply rooted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They ended with a proverb and a direct appeal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cA stitch in time saves nine. Mr. President, we urge you to prevail on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to urgently act, secure lives and property, and ensure that the INEC delineation report is released without bias or manipulation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Signed:
Tariwei Goodman Ebi<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chairman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ebiwie Godfrey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secretary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Uche Alvin The Warri Ijaw Stakeholders, under the leadership of Chairman Tariwei Goodman Ebi…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4825,"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":[3,12],"tags":[1456],"class_list":["post-4826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime","category-insecurity","tag-just-in-ijaw-stakeholders-group-urge-president-tinubu-to-prevail-on-governor-sheriff-oborevwori-over-rising-tension-in-warri"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/img_2797-1.jpg?fit=192%2C110&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4832,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/09\/19\/just-in-governor-sheriff-oborevwori-is-more-concerned-about-his-political-ambition-and-not-the-lives-of-deltans____says-warri-ijaw-stakeholders\/","url_meta":{"origin":4826,"position":0},"title":"JUST IN: \u201cGovernor Sheriff Oborevwori Is More Concerned About His Political Ambition And Not The Lives Of Deltans\u201d____Says Warri Ijaw Stakeholders","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"September 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin The Warri Ijaw Stakeholders have raised serious concerns over the conduct and priorities of Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, warning that his recent actions show he is more interested in positioning himself for the 2027 elections than addressing the urgent issues facing Deltans. In a\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\/09\/img_2856-1.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/img_2856-1.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/img_2856-1.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/img_2856-1.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4824,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/09\/17\/just-in-mulade-calls-for-governor-oborevworis-swift-intervention-as-tension-rises-in-warri\/","url_meta":{"origin":4826,"position":1},"title":"JUST IN: Mulade Calls For Governor Oborevwori\u2019s Swift Intervention As Tension Rises In Warri","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"September 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Esther David A renowned peace, justice and environmental advocate, Comrade (Chief) Sheriff Mulade, PhD, has called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State to act swiftly in addressing the current tension among the three ethnic nationalities of Urhobo, Itsekiri and Ijaw in the Warri Federal Constituency before the tension\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_0773-1.jpg?fit=225%2C225&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5521,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/05\/01\/2027-pondi-otuaro-guwor-other-delta-south-stakeholders-endorse-senator-joel-onowakpo-for-second-term\/","url_meta":{"origin":4826,"position":2},"title":"2027: Pondi, Otuaro, Guwor, Other Delta South Stakeholders, Endorse Senator Joel-Onowakpo For Second Term","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"May 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Freeborn Abraye The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, was among key stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, Delta South Senatorial District, who, on Friday, endorsed the senator representing the district, Thomas Joel-Onowakpo, for a second term in the 2027 general elections. They expressed their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img_1091.jpg?fit=926%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img_1091.jpg?fit=926%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img_1091.jpg?fit=926%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img_1091.jpg?fit=926%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4671,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/08\/16\/just-in-iyc-calls-on-federal-government-to-caution-the-sheriff-oborevwori-led-delta-state-government-over-an-inviting-publication-says-itsekiris-are-not-majority-in-warri-north-lga\/","url_meta":{"origin":4826,"position":3},"title":"JUST IN: IYC Calls On Federal Government To Caution Sheriff Oborevwori Led Delta State Government Over Inciting Publication, Says Itsekiris Are Not Majority In Warri North LGA","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"August 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Esther David The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, ably led by Comrade Nicholas Igarama in strong terms, condemns the recent declaration by the Delta State Government that the Itsekiri ethnic Nationality being the predominant tribe in Warri North Local Government Area. Ordinarily, the Council would have discarded such\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_1933-3-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1933-3-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1933-3-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C684&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/img_1933-3-1.jpg?fit=1022%2C684&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":4826,"position":4},"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":4819,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/09\/16\/breaking-group-demands-sack-of-police-area-commander-warri-south-lga-chairman-hon-weyinmi-isaac-agbateyiniro-over-removal-of-pere-of-ogbe-ijow-coronation-anniversary-banners\/","url_meta":{"origin":4826,"position":5},"title":"BREAKING: Group Demands Sack Of Police Area Commander, Warri South LGA Chairman, Hon. Weyinmi Isaac Agbateyiniro Over Removal Of Pere Of Ogbe-Ijow Coronation Anniversary Banners","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"September 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Uche Alvin The Warri Ijaw community stakeholders have condemned in the strongest terms the provocative and unlawful removal of the coronation anniversary banner of His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni, Monbene III, Pere Amakosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, which was taken down at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)\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\/09\/img_2693-1.jpg?fit=914%2C562&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/img_2693-1.jpg?fit=914%2C562&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/img_2693-1.jpg?fit=914%2C562&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/img_2693-1.jpg?fit=914%2C562&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-1fQ","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4826","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=4826"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4826\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}