Warri delineation: IYC warns presidency to avoid playing ethnic card in favour of Itsekiri

By Diafa Doubra

The revered Ijaw Youth Council has expressed utter dismay over attempts by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu led cabinet members to manipulate the Warri delineation report to favor the Itsekiris nation.

This was contained in a statement signed and issued by Comrade Nicholas Igarama Chairman, IYC Western Zone, Barr. Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo Secretary, IYC Western Zone and Comr. Tare Magbei Information Officer, IYC Western Zone in which a copy of it was sent to newsmen in Warri during the weekend.

According to the statement, unpatriotic elements with vested interest in the final outcome of the delineation exercise first sought for INEC to undertake a fresh exercise before seeking to alter the already proposed recommendations by the electoral umpire to favour the Itsekiri nation.

The statement read, “The attention of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone, has been drawn to plots by certain elements within the Nigerian Presidency to frustrate the genuine efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from implementing the outcome of the delineation of wards and polling units in Warri Federal Constituency.

“These elements have made it a habitual duty to bring to nothing the efforts law-abiding individuals and ethnic nationalities have invested towards ensuring that the age-long political irregularities are brought to a rightful position.

“These unpatriotic elements with vested interest in the final outcome of the delineation exercise first sought for INEC to undertake a fresh exercise before seeking to alter the already proposed recommendations by the electoral umpire to favour the Itsekiri nation.

“We have it in good authority that INEC is under severe pressure to abandon its proposed recommendations to allow the Itsekiris to continually lay claim to a majority status that only exists in their minds and not in reality.

“The IYC Western Zone is aware of their plots and will not remain silent against any form of perceived injustice against Ijaws in Warri Federal Constituency or anywhere else as a matter of fact.

“Council, therefore, uses this medium to draw the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the plots by persons in his cabinet if allowed to manifest, could lead to a breakdown of law and order in Warri and environs.

“We declare that Ijaws will not tolerate any form of oppression from unscrupulous elements within the presidency, who are trying to midwife chaos in Warri Federal Constituency.

“We will stand up to what is our right and vehemently oppose any move to undo the already established report of INEC as regards the Ward Delineation exercise.

“The IYC Western Zone also calls on President Tinubu to urgently swing into action by prevailing on INEC to respect the rule of law and implement the ward delineation report.

“Lastly, we wish to unequivocally call on INEC to implement the Ward Delineation Report before commencing the continuous voters registration exercise, as the former wards and units are now obsolete going by the Supreme Court Judgment.”