Delta South Senatorial District Has Four, Not Three Ethnic Groups, Says Urhobos

By Daniel Dafe, Abraka

Urhobo APC Members who are Indigenes of Okere Urhobo and Agbarha Warri Kingdoms comprising 6 INEC Electoral Wards in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta South Senatorial District, has described as very inaccurate and provocative, statements from certain elements in Delta APC who have said that Delta South Senatorial District is made up of only 3 (three) tribes namely Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri, adding ”that this is criminal falsehood which is highly reprehensible.”

A statement signed by Mr. Benjamin Eboh and Hon. Gabriel Okandeji, added that Delta South Senatorial District is made up of 4 (four) indigenous tribes namely Ijaw, Isoko, Itsekiri and Urhobo, saying that ”It is insulting and indeed criminal for anybody in APC or elsewhere to state otherwise.”

According to the statement, ”the Urhobos of Delta South Senatorial District occupy two legally recognized indigenous and independent kingdoms,” which he said are the Okere Urhobo Kingdom of Warri South Local Government Area with their traditional ruler, the Oroseun of Okere Urhobo Kingdom and Agbarha Warri Kingdom of Warri South Local Government Area with their traditional ruler the Ovie of Agbarha Warri.

Continuing, the statement said: ”In addition, the two Urhobo Kingdoms in Warri have six Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) delineated wards in Warri South Local Government Area out of the total 12 INEC wards in Warri South Local Government Area.”

”The indigenous Urhobos in the Okere Urhobo and Agbarha Warri Kingdoms with 6 INEC Wards in Warri South Local Government Area have the same rights, and privileges accruable to the Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri indigenes in the Delta South Senatorial District,” the statement added.

”It is, therefore, misleading, mischievous and provocative for any persons to try to convey the impression that there are only three ethnic groups in Delta South Senatorial District.

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”We have also noticed statements by certain persons in the APC who are trying to equate what they call 3i’s association (made up of Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri) as equal and representative of the entire Delta South Senatorial District. This is outright falsehood and cannot be tolerated in a decent society. This posturing by these persons is misleading, mischievious and provocative with the sole aim of creating a false impression that there are only three indigenous tribes in Delta South Senatorial District.

”As stated above, Delta South Senatorial District is made up of 4 (four) indigenous tribes – Ijaw, Isoko, Itsekiri and Urhobo – with equal political and economic rights, as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution,” they said.

They vowed not to tolerate a situation where persons in the party continue to make statements and engage in activities towards giving a false impression that Delta Senatorial District is made up of only 3 indigenous tribes of Ijaw, Isoko and Itsekiri tribes only.