Another Warri Crisis: Ogbe Ijoh Monarch, Subjects Must Be Called To Order

-By Zik Gbemre

We hear NSA Nuhu Ribadu is to intervene in Warri crises. No armchair intervention can work to restore peace if past three recommendations of commissions of enquiries set up by federal government are neglected.

The three federal commissions of enquiry set up were: Justice Nnaemeka-Agu, 1993, Justice Alhassan Idoko 1997 and General T.Y Danjuma 2003. All recommended separate LGs for Urhobo, Itsekiri and Ijaw respectively with clear definitions of spacial boundaries.

Till date these recommendations were not implemented. Ribadu should advise President Ahmed Tinubu to go dust these three in national archives, review and implement them without bias for lasting resolution.

The recent crisis on 16th September 2025 in Warri Township between Ogbe Ijoh youths and Itsekiri youths in Warri calls to question the overzealousness by Ogbe-Ijoh elders and youths. It’s inciting to float spill a coronatiom anniversary that should be held in Ogbe-Ijoh into Warri Township in guise of sharing or pasting posters.

Ijaw’s attempt to create two different Ogbe Ijoh communities will always stir crisis, regardless of Ogbe Ijoh’s title to a territory in Warri Township. Today, the settlement known as Ogbe Ijoh is the river side community that is now headquarters of Warri South West LG. Same place is where the indigenes introduced their royalty, not long ago.

The selection and rites of ascension to the throne of Pere (King) of Ogbe-Ijoh where the chosen one is also coronated to rule over his people in a Palace build few years ago.There is not history of a Pere of Ogbe Ijoh coronated in Warri Township. No coronation or anniversary ceremony is done in Warri Township. So why the provocative show of force in Warri by Ogbe Ijoh people in the name of coronation anniversary?

Why incite ethnic tension with coronation anniversary banners outside Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South LG instead of containing the funfair in Ogbe-Ijoh Town in Warri South West? Ijaws have no justification for causing the incitement they induced in Warri.

This was same concerned we raised weeks back about the Itsekiris, for stirring conflict with Urhobos of Warri by a provocative procession for the anniversary of the Coronation of their Olu which should be done in Ode-Itsekiri where their kings are chosen and coronated through the various rites.

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The Olu of Itsekiri is crowned in Ode-Itsekiri and not in Warri Township. Ode-Itsekiri is the traditional headquarters of Itsekiri people. The Ovie of Agbarha-Ame is crowned in Agbarha-Ame Warri Kingdom in Warri Township and the Orosue of Okere-Urhobo is crowned in Okere-Urhobo in Warri Township.

Ogbe-Ijoh monarch and people should do their traditional activities including anniversary processions in Ogbe-Ijoh Town in Warri South West LGA. Olu and Itsekiri people should do their traditional activities including their coronation anniversary activities in Ode-Itsekiri in Warri South LGA and not in Warri Township.

The Agbarha-Ame Monarch and people should do their traditional activities including coronation anniversary in Agbarha-Ame Kingdom within their territory in Warri Township and Okere-Urhobo Monarch and people should do their traditional activities including coronation anniversary within their territory in Warri Township.

I blame Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the crises between Ogbe-Ijoh youths and Itsekiri youths. If Oborevwori had heed my advice few days ago by calling Olu and Itsekiri elders to order and courageously tell them to limit their traditional activities including coronation anniversary within their territory, the crises between Ogbe-Ijoh and Itsekiri youths on Tuesday 16th September 2025 that forced businesses to shutdown when Ogbe-Ijoh people spilled over their Pere’s coronation anniversary into Warri in the name of placing banners of the coronation anniversary would have been avoided.

Delta government has a role to play, if not one day Ijaw people will take their coronation anniversary to Ugborikoko behind DDPA (Bendel Estate) of Uvwie LGA which some Ijaw people have nicknamed ‘Ijaw Quarters’. Uvwie LGA is in heart of Urhoboland.

Ijaws are strangers in Uvwie Kingdom, Uvwie LGA, Delta state. There is no place known as ‘Ijaw Quarters’ in Bendel Estate (DDPA) in Ugborikoko or in entire Uvwie Kingdom/Clan. Ijaws have practically acquired vast land from Uvwie people in Bendel Estate (DDPA) or behind it built several houses.

The waterfront along NNPC housing complex and Ugboroke Layout in a supposed Haven Homes Estate in Uvwie LGA have been acquired by some Ijaw people who have built houses. Why their right to acquire is not our concern as long as they acquire lawfully, the ulterior motive of community conquest is inciting. We see a malicious intent of false claim to ownership of territories in Uvwie Kingdom of Uvwie LGA in time to come.

The entire Uvwie LGA is in Urhoboland and no part is owned by Ijaw people. Agreed they are free to live and do business in them and not to lay false claim. Ijaw traditional rulers should remain in their Palaces in Ijawland to perform their traditional activities including coronation anniversary.

Ijaws are not natives of Uvwie Kingdom in Delta and can’t take their traditional activities and coronation to Uvwie and also Ovie(Monarch) of Uvwie Kingdom and people can’t take their traditional activities and coronation to Ogbe-Ijoh Town. Uvwie is Urhobo.

Ovie of Agbarha-Ame and Orosue of Okere-Urhobo can’t take their traditional activities including coronation anniversary to Ogbe-Ijoh. Agbarha-Ame and Okere-Urhobo people of Warri Township are Urhobos. Every tribe and traditional rulers should maintain their boundaries and territories respectively.

As close as Udu and Ughievwen Kingdoms/Clans, they maintain their traditional activities including coronation anniversary within their Kingdoms/Clans respectively. Every tribe including Urhobo people should stay within their territory to perform their traditional activities including coronation anniversary.

Urhobo, Ijaw and Itsekiri should keep the peace and know their territories respectively. Governor Oborevwori should call to order Ogbe-Ijoh people for igniting the crises on 16th September 2025 in Warri Township.

The truth is bitter and we must say it. I am seeing a situation that one day some Ijaw people will lay false claim of ownership of Ugborikoko, DDPA (Bendel Estate) land of Uvwie people in Delta state. To avoid this indiscriminate naming of street names of Ijaw and Itsekiri people by Uvwie LG Council should be avoided.

Uvwie LGA shouldn’t allow Ijaws and Itsekiris to name streets and roads after them. They may likely use that as excuses to lay false claim of ownership of land.
We should learn from the past mistakes to avoid further ethnic crises in Delta State.

Ogbe-Ijoh, Ijaw Town is the headquarters of Warri South West LGA,can’t they paste the banners of the coronation anniversary of Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh in the headquarters as traditional seat of their traditional ruler?

Why going to Warri Township outside Warri South West LGA to paste banners of Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh coronation anniversary in Warri South LGA?

Zik Gbemre
September 22,2025

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