Warri Delineation: Egbema Youth Forum Commends INEC, Demands More Wards, Units

• Says Ijaw two communities in Warri North are more than entire Itsekiris in Warri North

By Monday Peters, Abuja

A leading group under the auspices of Egbema Youth Political Forum (EGYPF) in Egbema Kingdom, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for discharging a transparent fresh Delineation Exercise in the Warri Federal Constituency (Warri North, Warri South and Warri South -West Local Government Areas) in Delta State as ordered by the Supreme Court in its Judgement Delivered on the 2nd day of December 2022 in Abuja.

In a statement by the Chairman of the Forum Barr. Ebigbagha S. Baidi during the weekend in Warri lauded His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC National Commissioner Representing Cross River, Delta and Edo States Prof. Rhoda Gamus and all other Stakeholders who swiftly obeyed the Court Judgement, thereby carrying out the fresh Delineation Exercise to ascertain the true state of Electoral Wards accrued to the major Ethnic Nationalities that make up the Warri Federal Constituency.

The statement reads, “we gladly receive the report of the field work presented to the stakeholders by Delta State Resident electoral commissioner of INEC, Sir Etekamba Udo Umoren at the Stakeholders meeting in Asaba, the state Capital. This is indeed a demonstration that Ijaws are never a minority even in the Warri Federal Constituency, let alone Niger Delta”.

The Youths further demanded that the remaining two wards should be given to Egbema Kingdom considering her large population and land mass. “Our demand is based on the fact that the population of just two Ijaw communities in Warri North is more than the entire Itsekiri communities in Warri North”.

The group urged the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and all stakeholders not to be intimidated by the ranting of Itsekiri Nation. The Commission should ensure the report is implemented without delay and as a matter of importance delineate the remaining two wards to Ijaws in Warri North. What INEC has done is a clear demonstration and commitment to democratic principles and practice showing how transparent and unbiased the electoral umpire of Nigeria has become.

The Leadership of the forum also used the medium to advise the Itsekiri Nation to sheath sword and accept the report in good faith in other to sustain the undisturbed peace in the state, stating that inflammatory, rhetoric and acrimony are not civil approaches to seeking redress in issue of this nature as we are indivisible entities in one geographical location.

“ We extend our profound appreciation to Barr. George Timinimi, Barr. Eric Omare, Barr. Ugha Kurumah and others who took this bold step of approaching the court which has always been the last hope of the oppressed which indeed has yielded the expected result.

“We further appreciate Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, the Executive Governor of Delta State, our Foremost Leader, High Chief Dr. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo and other leaders for providing the enabling environment, ensuring the process was completed without violence especially during the field work.

The leadership of the forum called on the monarch of Itsekiri to call his subjects who have been attacking the personality of High Chief Dr. Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo to order forthwith and states in strong terms that further ridiculous comments against him will not be tolerated and would be given equal reactions.

“As Chairman of the forum, I applaud the INEC report disclosed to us stating that in Warri North Ijaws have 10 Wards while Itsekiris have 8 Wards, Warri Southwest Ijaws have 15 Wards while Itsekiris have 5 Wards, Warri South, Ijaws have 3 Wards, Itsekiris have 8 Wards while Urohbos have 9 Wards,” but that of the Egbema people should be increased to 12 Wards and units”, he emphasised”