Chief Gbenekama warns against laying false claims on Ikantu, repels threats

By Osaro Michael, Benin

The Fiyewei of Gbaramatu kingdom Chief Gbenekama Godspower responded to the rising threats and tension from the Itsekiri people against the Ikantu people who formally reaffirmed their Ijaw ancestry in a press conference some days ago.

Speaking in a video posted by the spokesman of the kingdom, Chief Gbenekama said their attention was drawn to the false claims of Itsekiri over the Ikantu community, citing that the Ikantu community was founded by the Ijaws.

The statement reads, “I am the Fiyewei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, By the grace of God a kingdom that is blessed with a traditional ruler who understands the people, first and foremost I want to thank God for the life of our people, the Ikantu people who have come out boldly to dispel all doubts about their ancestry and where they belong to.

“We thank God for their life and they will continue to be protected, however, information arriving in the media that there are threats to the lives of the Ikantu people for saying the truth.

“Whether , the information is right or wrong, let us put it on record that nobody has the right to violence, nobody has the monopoly of misbehavior and nobody has the monopoly of the social media.

“Since the beginning of the ranting of some Itsekiri elements, attacking our people, I the spokesman of Gbaramatu Kingdom has never made any video but it is now patient to say and state that, obviously nobody should touch anybody from Ikantu we are solidly behind the Ikantu people, should anybody stretch their hands to as much as touch the hair of any Ikantu man on account of the truth that they have said, they will cure the wrath of the Gods of Gbaramatu Kingdom and the Gods of Gbaramatu Kingdom that I know will not hesitate to take action.

“So to be forewarned is to be forearmed, and let me also say all those children of Gbaramatu that are claiming to be Itsekiri please trace your ancestry, am using this video to tell people like Ayiri Emami, they are struggling to remove you from the Ologbosere of the Itsekiri Kingdom because you are Ijaw ancestry, you have Ijaw ancestry that is why they are struggling to remove you from the Ologbosere of the Itsekiri Kingdom, you are there going to defend them in the NSA office, well nobody will stop you but retrace your steps.

“I am using this video to call on all other communities like Obodo where Oweizibiri was buried, like Omadinor, Amadinor community “fishing camp” that is the name where Emiemie was buried and Joala where Egbegha founded, they should also retraced their steps, Gbaramatu is solidly behind them and as I speak nobody will touch them, let them say the truth for once, those Itsekiri threats “na water, nothing go happen to una” and if there should be anybody that touches the hair of these communities on an account of the truth that they are saying the Gods of the land of Gbaramatu will fight for them”

He assured the Ikantu people that the Gbaramatu Kingdom is behind them and that no harm will come against them without the Gbaramatu Kingdom resisting it.

The spokesman, also urged all other communities with Gbaramatu ancestry that were under Itsekiri Kingdom to retrace their steps and clear the hair on their ancestry and that no harm will come against them.