Attack on Warri North Council Boss: Stop fanning embers of fresh ethnic crisis -IYC Egbema warns Itsekiri Councilors

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC Egbema Kingdom has warned Itsekiri Councilors in Warri North Local Government Council to further desist from attacking and issuing impeachment threats on the council chairman Hon. Capt Smart Asekutu.

The Egbema Youths while handing down the stern warning, added that a move to impeach the Council Boss who is from the Ijaw in the Egbema kingdom would be seen as an invitation to another ethnic war in the LGA council.

This was asserted through the chairman of IYC Egbema kingdom Comrade Peter Gagbemi Toruwei in Warri on Tuesday.

The statement reads partly: “The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Egbema Kingdom, has observed with discontent the unwarranted and unprovoked attacks on the Chairman of the Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, Hon. Capt, Smart Asekutu, by members of the Itsekiri caucus of the Warri North Legislative Arm.

“A few days ago, the leadership of IYC, Egbema Kingdom got wind of rumours from some quarters that some Itsekiri councilors have impeached the Chairman of Warri North, Hon. Smart Asekutu, who happens to be an Ijaw man, on the instruction of their pay Masters, did not stop there but took a step further to write a branch Manager of Eco Bank PLC, to stop any withdrawals from the council’s account – all calculated to belittle the Chairman and the Ijaws.”

The IYC stressed that the Itsekiri lawmakers are heating the system to provoke the Ijaws, adding that their silence shouldn’t be mistaken for cowardice.

IYC stated, “We wish to state unequivocally that this is not the first time that the Itsekiri lawmakers are heating the system to provoke the Ijaws, and it appears that our silence is mistaken for cowardice or fear. That’s a very wrong impression about the Warri North Ijaws.

“It is worthy to note that the Ijaws have given their unwavering support to all Itsekiri sons who have been privileged to chair the council. There was never a time that we rose against them – our support was and will always remain 100%, and so, we find it so petty and very provoking that the Itsekiri lawmakers could have the mind to make the system ungovernable for the first time that an Ijaw man is overseeing the affairs of the council.

The youths explained, “Our support for the Itsekiri sons and daughters holding elective positions didn’t start today. We’ve always backed them up; even though our people have never benefitted from them in any way. For instance, the member representing Warri Federal Constituency, Hon. Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, and the lawmaker representing Warri North Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Fred Martins has been there doing their things – with no positive impact on any Ijaw communities in Warri North, yet, we have never revolted against them.

“They have always been the ones occupying the House of Assembly seat and the House of Representatives and they’ve always gotten 100% support from us, and now that we’ve managed to produce a Local Government Chairman, they have refused to allow him to do his work peacefully. This is unacceptable.

“Our community Tsekelewu/Polobubo is suffering serious siltation and we can no longer use speed boats to access our community, yet our House of Representatives Member, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi has kept mute despite pleas for him to sponsor a bill to foster the dredging of our creeks, but all efforts proved abortive and we have never for once risen against him. Irrespective of the fact that the Itsekiris have always occupied sensitive offices zoned to the Warri North, both appointive and elective positions. They have always displayed their unpatriotism by not even sitting n a project within the Egbema communities that are predominantly occupied by the Ijaws.

“The Itsekiri’s have enjoyed the support of the Ijaws for about 23 years and now they feel no Ijaw man can chair the council in peace, then we will defend our OWN and also play the Vendetta game whenever any Itsekiri son assumes office.

“To our knowledge, Hon. Smart Asekutu has run the affairs of the council to the best of his abilities, his track record surpasses his predecessors. We as Ijaws are pleased with the way he has prudently managed the funds of the council within the period in view. He has proven to be a man of integrity, an astute administrator, and a good manager of financial and human resources he means well for the people of the LGA, and we will stand by him to refute every move to disrupt his Government by any means necessary.

“Furthermore, as a Council (IYC), we sincerely Appeal to the Itsekiri political elites in Warri North to call their sons who are in the Warri North Legislative arm to order; as their actions do not conform to peaceful coexistence among neighbors.

The IYC, however, called on the Governor of Delta State, Sen. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, Deputy Governor, His Excellency Deacon Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to call the Itsekiri lawmakers to order not escalated bad blood among residents in Warri North Council Area.

“We are appealing to His Excellency The Executive Governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, the Deputy Governor, His Excellency Deacon Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, the Honorable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the state to call these few to order so that the issue does not escalate beyond this level.
A stitch in time, they say,” saves nine”, they added.