2015: *Itsekiris formed alliance with Oodua People
A possible bloodbath was averted in Warri, following alleged moves by policemen and youths to halt an Oodua People's Congress (OPC) meeting in Warri, Delta State.
A team of policemen from "A" Division of the Area Command in Warri were drafted to disrupt the meeting as allegations were rife that the meeting was planned to inaugurate the militia wing of OPC in Warri.
Oodua People's Congress-led by Otunba (Dr) Gani Adams was billed to hold its National Coordinating Council meeting in Warri of which Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was expected as a special guest of honour.
The meeting was to hold at Atuwatse II Model Primary School, Okere, Warri but before the event could kick off, police had overran the venue, forcing guest to beat a retreat.
This is coming against the backdrop of an earlier petition reportedly written by a prominent Itsekiri palace chief, Rita Lori-Ogbe warning against holding the event.
Apparently capitalising on this development, some fierce looking youths, reportedly stormed the venue, scattering the canopies, table and chairs already arranged for the event.
It was learnt that Adams, who led 2,000 OPC leaders, including Alhaji Oyinlola Awe, Lateef Oladimejo and Mudashiru Aderibigbe, National Admin Secretary, Financial Secretary and Treasurer; INYC President, David Tonwe and others, were stopped from the venue of the ceremony.
The President of Itsekiri National Youth Council, Chief David Tonwe who is the host in the event have been in a running battle with former chairman of Ugborodo Trust Committee, Chief Thomas Ereyetomi, backed by Chief Ayeri Emami, an associate of governor Uduaghan over the reported illegal arrest of spiritual head of Ugborodo community as well as the interface committee set up over the N26billion naira Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in the Ogidigben.
It was not clear however if this led to the deployment of policemen and youths who barricaded the entrance of the venue of the ceremony to stop the event.
The development had heighten tensions in Warri as palpable fear griped residents over possible clashes between the policemen and the youths.
Adams who was reportedly taken aback by the development was said to have forced the event to be moved to a different location where the inauguration of the Itsekiri's chapter of the OPC later took place to avert possible confrontation.
The inauguration of the Itsekiri chapter of OPC which was hailed by several Itsekiri leaders, including Prof. Tony Afejuku and Dr. Lucky Akaruese, among others was later performed at the residence of the Chairman of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, Pa JOS Ayomike, who was expected as chairman of the occasion at the enlarge gathering.
This was later followed by the National Coordinating Council meeting of OPC held at PK hotels.
In the entourage of Gani Adams were over 78 officers of OPC including Alh. Oyinlola Awe, the National Administrative Secretary of OPC, Alh. Lateef Oladimeji, Financial Secretary of OPC, Comrade Mudashiru Aderibigbe, National Treasurer of OPC among others.
Adams described his visit to Warri as home-coming, saying that he was always joyous when he was visiting people of same ancestral lineage.
He said the Itsekiri were descendants of Oduduwa and as such, needed the presence of OPC in their midst since the body was created to preserve all Oduduwa descendants.
Adams while eulogizing the late Pa Alfred Rewane, a notable Itsekiri leader and co-founder of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), who played immense role in the June 12 debacle, said that the murder of Rewane created immense vacuum in NADECO.
He explained that the OPC was a special body created to cater for the needs of O’dua descendants of which Itsekiri was part of adding that Oduduwa descendants existed in several parts of Nigeria apart from the South-West, including Igala, Akoko-Edo and even in Benin Republic and the Caribbean.
Speaking further, Otunba Adams, said: “We are not in Itsekiri (Warri) to cause problem and I do not see anything bad in coming to Delta State.”
He regretted that some persons who were better placed had misconstrue the purpose of meeting which he said have been replicated in Benin as well as Port Harcourt, River State sometime ago.
The OPC leader therefore corrected the impression which portrayed the congress as a militant group saying that the group has played its part, "like other ethnic bodies, in restoring pride of place to the Yoruba nation"
Adams explained further that OPC is a socio-cultural organisation set for the collective good of all Yoruba people.
“We founded the OPC to fight for the identities of all the Yoruba people all over the universe. There are about 46 million Yoruba in Nigeria and over 200 million all over the world. Itsekiri is part of the descendants of Oduduwa. Therefore, they need the support of the OPC, he added.
He said that the inauguration of the OPC chapter was to forge a closer tier between Itsekiri and Yoruba people adding that the Itsekiri nation would be more powerful and formidable politically with the alliance it has cemented with the OPC.
"This relationship would benefit the Itsekiri people much, socially, economically, culturally and politically. There are a lot of things we can do together as a people. I think the Itsekiri people would have more contact with this brotherhood and their identity with the Yorubas would be stronger now".
He said that the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought backed the inauguration of the chapter in the state adding "we targeted to work with the grassroots but we are so surprise that the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought has endorse this larger group".
Otunba Adams reiterated that it was wrong for people to be crying wolf when there was none saying; " “With what we have done, we have shown a great deal of maturity. We played down the issue of confrontation.
“Our members in this community are more than 2,000. If we (had) marched them to the field, there would have been chaos. I have to thank the leadership and organisation skill of the Itsekiri for the level of understanding,” he added.
He therefore thanked Itsekiri Leaders of Thought for ensuring that OPC Delta State (Itsekiri chapter) was inaugurated as well as the INYC for hosting the OPC National Coordinating Council (NCC) Meeting without the predicted breakdown of law and order.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Gbubemi Abigor, INYC spokesman, also lamented the misinformation spread about the event.
“Our idea is to have contact with our brothers from the Southwest (OPC) and ensure that we can relate socially, economically, politically, etc.
“Funny enough, this very good and noble intention was marred by negative speculations. We deem it necessary that we should avoid anything that can dent this noble relationship we are trying to create,” Abigor, who spoke on behalf of INYC President, David Tonwe, said.
Earlier, Pa Ayomike who welcome the OPC and INYC team said that he was happy to meet Gani Adams personally adding that the visits was a blessing to Itsekiri nation.
Saying that there was no part of the Nigerian constitution that forbid the gathering, Pa Ayomike wonder why people were raising issues out of it adding that it has become a recurring incident for the government to violate the constitution.
He expressed delight that despite the intimidation and harassment, the ceremony went fine without the possible confrontation.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr Lucky Akaruese expressed delight that the launching of the Itsekiri wing of OPC would further cement the bond between the Itsekiri people and the Yoruba.
He however condemned the alleged invasion of the earlier venue of the meeting by policemen and thugs drafted in.
"No government has the right to debar citizens from holding meeting, having peaceful assemblies when there are international human right laws guaranteeing this kind of peaceful assembly. Hence, we want to let the world know that we cannot be intimidated, it is our right to assemble...he added.
Present at the inauguration were Chief JOS Ayomike, Chief (Madam) F.E Rewane, Comrade Hakeem Olawale Agboola, the Delta state Co-ordinator of OPC, Comrade Michael Odeli, Itsekiri Coordinator of OPC, Comrade Rasheed Alade, Sir Amorighoye S. Mene, INYC President, Hon David Tonwe, Dr Lucky Akaruese, Mr. Edward Ekpoko, Chief F.A. Rewane, Prof. Tony Afejuku, Mr. David Iwere among others.
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