There Is Nothing Like Oguanja Community In Sapele, Says Okpe Youth Council

By Daniel Dafe

Okpe Youth Council Worldwide led by Comr Israel Ejiro Otomewo has said that there is nothing like Ogun-Aja Community in Sapele.

The youth body said this in a statement signed by Comr Israel Ejiro Otomewo, National president and Comr Ekpo Samuel Okakuro, National Secretary, to counter the publication of a banner/poster currently circulating in the media space designed by a group of Itsekiri people residing in Sapele that announced the 2021 Independence Day Celebration with heading “OGUN-AJA COMMUNITY SAPELE DELTA STATE.”

The said publicity material also carried the image of Itsekiri monarch.

OYC recalled that “in September 2020, this same group of Itsekiri people residing in Sapele came up with banner like this that almost led to crisis and was averted after Itsekiri King put a call across to the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and the King in his wisdom apologized to the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom on behalf of his people residing in Sapele.”

The statement continued: “Recall also that a delegation of Itsekiri people residing in Sapele led by Chief Adams Oritsetimeyin visited the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom to pledge their loyalty and to further cement peace and unity of Itsekiri people residing in Sapele and Okpe people. At the meeting at the Palace of the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, some level of agreement was reached to forestall reoccurrence in the future which has to do with seeking approval from the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom or the Duke of Sapele District for any of their programs.”

Furthermore, the leadership of OYC gave four conditions to be met before the said program can hold.

These are that the Itsekiri people residing in Sapele should get the necessary approval for this program; heading on the banner bearing Ogun-Aja Community Sapele should be removed; the image of Itsekiri Monarch flying high on Okpe soil will not be tolerated and that an apology should be made by the leadership of Itsekiri people residing in Sapele as soon as possible in order to calm the nerves of Okpe youths.

According to the statement, “Sapele Okpe Community is made up of four quarters namely Egborode, Eta-amua, Oton and Ogodo quarter.”