{"id":5224,"date":"2025-12-16T15:25:39","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T15:25:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/12\/16\/just-in-warri-elders-group-makes-final-rejection-of-olu-of-itsekiris-deception-false-supremacy-and-attempt-to-rewrite-history-ownership-and-identity-of-warri-through-traditional-proclamati\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T15:25:39","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T15:25:39","slug":"just-in-warri-elders-group-makes-final-rejection-of-olu-of-itsekiris-deception-false-supremacy-and-attempt-to-rewrite-history-ownership-and-identity-of-warri-through-traditional-proclamati","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/12\/16\/just-in-warri-elders-group-makes-final-rejection-of-olu-of-itsekiris-deception-false-supremacy-and-attempt-to-rewrite-history-ownership-and-identity-of-warri-through-traditional-proclamati\/","title":{"rendered":"JUST IN: Warri Elders Group Makes Final Rejection Of Olu Of Itsekiri\u2019s Deception, False Supremacy And Attempt To Rewrite History, Ownership And Identity Of Warri Through Traditional Proclamations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Esther David<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A SOLEMN DECLARATION BY THE CONCERNED ELDERS OF WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ADDRESSED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT, AND THE NIGERIAN AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC
DATE: 16\/12\/2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RE: A FINAL REJECTION OF DECEPTION, FALSE SUPREMACY AND ANY ATTEMPT TO REWRITE THE HISTORY, OWNERSHIP AND IDENTITY OF WARRI THROUGH TRADITIONAL PROCLAMATIONS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We, the Concerned Elders of Warri Federal Constituency, speak today with the weight of memory, ancestry, law and truth. We speak not as agitators, not as youths driven by anger but as elders who have seen seasons change, regimes fall and lies recycled. What compels this declaration is not ambition but insult, an insult wrapped in fine language, seals and ceremony, presented to the world as peace but reeking of domination. The so-called \u201cRoyal Proclamation of Ambassage Chiefs in Itshekiri Kingdom\u201d is hereby rejected completely and without reservation. We reject it historically, legally, psychologically, morally and constitutionally. It is not a peace document; it is a political instrument. It is not about coexistence; it is about control. It is not tradition; it is deception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warri did not begin in a palace. Warri did not begin with a crown. Warri did not begin with a proclamation. Long before the emergence of modern Warri township, long before colonial administrative convenience, long before indirect rule distorted reality, Ijaw and Urhobo peoples lived, governed, traded, fished, farmed, worshipped and buried their dead across the land today called Warri. This is not emotion or folklore; it is record. British colonial intelligence reports, provincial files and administrative correspondence consistently described Warri as multi-ethnic in origin, settlement and ownership. The 1928 Warri Township Assessment Report (CO 554\/120\/5) never declared Warri a mono-ethnic territory. The CSO 26\/Vol.6\/08549 Warri Province Intelligence Reports documented Ijaw riverine communities and Urhobo upland settlements as indigenous and integral parts of Warri. Earlier still, Portuguese chronicler Duarte Pacheco Pereira in 1505 and later John Barbot in 1732 recorded Ijaw control of the waterways, estuaries and trade routes of the Warri\u2013Escravos axis long before the creation of Itshekiri. History, as E. H. Carr taught the world, is a dialogue between the past and the present; it is not a decree issued in 2025 to cure present political anxiety or demographic fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We must now speak plainly because deception survives where elders whisper. For decades, a carefully manufactured narrative has been sold to the outside world by the Itshekiris that Warri is ruled, owned and governed by one ethnic monarchy and that other peoples exist only by tolerance. This narrative is false, misleading and historically dishonest. No ethnic group rules Warri. No throne governs Warri. No kingdom owns Warri. What exists in Warri are seven distinct and historical kingdoms, each indigenous, autonomous and equal in status, none superior and none subordinate, none possessing authority over another. The attempt to project one kingdom as a \u201chost\u201d over others is a calculated deception designed to mislead outsiders, intimidate institutions and rewrite history by repetition. Warri consists of multiple indigenous kingdoms, including Ogbe-Ijoh, Gbaramatu, Isaba, Egbema, Okere-Urhobo, Agbarha and Itshekiri Kingdom itself. Each predates modern Nigeria, each possesses ancestral land, each maintains its own traditional ruler and each answers to no external throne. Any claim, whether direct or implied, that one kingdom hosts, represents or supervises others is not tradition; it is political misrepresentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The language used in the proclamation, words like \u201chost,\u201d \u201chomeland,\u201d \u201crepresentation,\u201d and \u201caccountability to the conferring authority\u201d is not innocent. It is psychological warfare by symbolism. Political psychology is clear that symbolic subordination always precedes structural domination. When a people are told their leaders serve at another\u2019s pleasure, their presence is conditional and their identity is supervised, the intention is hierarchy, not harmony. Peace built on humiliation is not peace. Peace built on silence is not peace. Peace built on erased history is delayed conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The courts have already spoken, repeatedly and clearly. No court in Nigeria or Britain has ever awarded exclusive ownership of Warri to any ethnic group. Ogegede v. Dore Numa (1925) concerned chieftaincy authority, not land ownership. Ometan v. Dore Numa (1926) addressed internal political issues, not territorial sovereignty. The Privy Council appeal of 1933 did not declare exclusive ownership of Warri. Shell Petroleum v. Tiebo VII (1996) affirmed Ijaw land rights in Warri South-West. A.G. Federation v. A.G. Abia & Ors (2002) reinforced the historical coastal ownership of Niger Delta peoples. Most recently, Timinimi v. INEC (SC\/CV\/1033\/2022) ordered proper ward delineation based on landmass and population, exposing decades of demographic manipulation in Warri Federal Constituency. Courts deal in evidence, not deceptive and false mythology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nigeria is governed by a written Constitution, not by deceptive proclamations or seals. Section 1(1) of the 1999 Constitution declares that the Constitution is supreme and binding on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria. No traditional institution has the authority to redefine indigeneity, rank ethnic nationalities, create supra-ethnic political offices or supervise the representation of other peoples. Any attempt to do so is ultra vires, unconstitutional and void.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We address the Federal Government, the National Security Adviser and the Delta State Government directly. Warri is calm today not because injustice is absent but because elders have restrained the truth. Do not mistake restraint for weakness. Documents that erase history, deceive the outside world, undermine court judgments and precede unresolved INEC delineation disputes are a direct threat to peace and national security. As Justice Kayode Eso warned, the law is not an instrument of oppression in the hands of the powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We therefore declare, clearly and finally, that Warri is a multi-ethnic ancestral territory, not a private estate; that Ijaw and Urhobo peoples are indigenous owners, not guests; that Warri has seven kingdoms, none superior to another; that no proclamation can alter history or judicial record; that any attempt to deceive the world about ownership or authority in Warri will be resisted lawfully, historically and intellectually; that the Federal Government must enforce constitutional supremacy; and that INEC must release the final ward delineation report as ordered by the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have survived colonialism. We have survived military rule. We have survived political manipulation. We will not be conquered by paper arrogance or ceremonial deception. We are not guests. We are not tenants. We are not subjects. Warri bows to no deceptive throne.<\/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

Concerned Elders of Warri Federal Constituency (CEWFC)
For and on behalf of peace, truth and justice in the Niger Delta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cc:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The Attorney General of the Federation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Inspector General of Police<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Delta State House of Assembly<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Esther David A SOLEMN DECLARATION BY THE CONCERNED ELDERS OF WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY ADDRESSED…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5223,"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":[13],"tags":[1739,1737,1738],"class_list":["post-5224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-false-supremacy-and-attempt-to-rewrite-history","tag-just-in-warri-elders-group-makes-final-rejection-of-olu-of-itsekiris-deception","tag-ownership-and-identity-of-warri-through-traditional-proclamations"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/img_5986.jpg?fit=903%2C787&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"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":5224,"position":0},"title":"Group 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ADVISER,THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT,AND THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC DATE: 11 DECEMBER 2025 SUBJECT: THE GREATEST TRADITIONAL FRAUD IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA, THE ILLEGAL AND MISLEADING TITLE \u201cOLU OF WARRI\u201d MUST BE REVERTED TO ITS TRUE\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Community"","block_context":{"text":"Community","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3583,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/06\/24\/coalition-group-in-warri-federal-constituency-lashes-at-itsekiris-over-false-land-claims-charges-deltans-nigerians-not-to-fall-for-their-deception\/","url_meta":{"origin":5224,"position":2},"title":"Coalition Group In Warri Federal Constituency Lashes At Itsekiris Over False Land Claims, Charges Deltans, Nigerians Not To Fall For Their Deception","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"June 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cPRESS RELEASE: \u201cTHE PADDLE OF LIES: THE WORLD MUST NOT FALL FOR THE ITSEKIRI DECEPTION\" By Uche Alvin We, the concerned sons and daughters of the Urhobo and Ijaw Nation and truth-loving people of Warri Federal Constituency, are compelled by history, by conscience and by the cry of the land\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_0195-1.jpg?fit=1077%2C663&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/img_0195-1.jpg?fit=1077%2C663&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/img_0195-1.jpg?fit=1077%2C663&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/img_0195-1.jpg?fit=1077%2C663&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, 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We, the Concerned Elders of Warri Federal Constituency, note the official handover of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to Mrs.\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\/10\/img_3526.png?fit=650%2C350&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_3526.png?fit=650%2C350&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img_3526.png?fit=650%2C350&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"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":5224,"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":4256,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2025\/07\/03\/disregard-false-and-fraudulent-itsekiri-ownership-claims-of-warri-south-warri-south-west-warri-north-lgas-and-urgently-publish-the-final-ward-delineation-report-___rights-group-tel\/","url_meta":{"origin":5224,"position":5},"title":"\u201cDisregard False And Fraudulent Itsekiri Ownership Claims Of Warri South, Warri South West, Warri North LGAs And Urgently Publish The Final Ward Delineation Report\u201d ___Rights Group Tells INEC","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"July 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u200eBy Esther David OPEN LETTER TO THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION.\u200eDisregard False and Fraudulent Itsekiri Ownership Claims of Warri South\/Warri South West\/Warri North Local Government Areas and Urgently Publish the Final Ward Delineation Report.\u200e\u200eWe write to you as direct stakeholders in the democratic process and future of Warri Federal Constituency.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Metro"","block_context":{"text":"Metro","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/metro\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0448-1.jpg?fit=686%2C386&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0448-1.jpg?fit=686%2C386&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/img_0448-1.jpg?fit=686%2C386&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-1mg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5224","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=5224"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5224\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5223"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}