It was meant to be the inauguration of another chapter of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), but the event in Warri, Delta State, was everything but ordinary. Apart from the tension of alleged planned attacks, there was also the fear that it was a precursor of an All Progressive Congress (APC) takeover of politics of the area. SHOLA O’NEIL reports on the drama, intrigues of the event.
There was tension at the Esisi Road Warri venue of the inauguration on Tuesday. Gaily dressed Itsekiri youths, men and women were joined by their Yoruba counterparts from the West and other parts of the country.
Seventy-eight members of the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) were in attendance; state executives from all its branches including the National Admin secretary, Financial Secretary, Ekiti State Coordinator National Assistant Gen Sec, along with hundreds of members decked in the group’s union were all in the Oil City.
But, as they drifted into the Atuwatse II Model Primary School, rumour spread that some people were mobilising security men and thugs to attack them. The inauguration of the Delta State chapter Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) tagged the Itsekiri OPC in the state had generated interest and panic in certain quarters.
It was also being tied to the ongoing face-off between the Thomas Ereyitomi and David Tonwe factions leadership tussle for the control of Ugborodo Community Trust. There were also politicians, particularly of the PDP stock, who feared that it was a political rally that must be stopped.
Shortly before the commencement of the event, a Toyota Hilux van stormed the scene with about a dozen armed policemen. They joined men of the Army that are permanently there and sealed up the entrance. The security invasion coincided with an attack on guests by some youths. The suspected thugs also harassed artisans working at the expansive premises of Chief Eyewuoma, opposite the venue.
It was gathered that there was fear in some quarters that the event was the precursor to the movement of the All Progressive Alliance (APC) takeover of Itsekiri land and parts of the state towards the 2015 general election.
There were also rumours making the round that the Itsekiri were planning to attack their neighbours, much to the chagrin of the organisers, who wondered why OPC did not ‘invade’ when there was crisis but at a time when the Itsekiri and their Ijaw and Urhobo were closest in recent times.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Itsekiri National Youth Council, led by Hon David Tonwe, a former Chairman of Warri South West Local Government, were locked in discussions with Otunba Gani Adams, National Coordinator Worldwide of the OPC on the situation.
Sources close to the organisers of the meeting told Niger Delta Report that a section of the visitors and Itsekiri youths were unhappy that they were being intimidated. This group wanted to show defiance by attending the event at the venue.
However, the quick intervention of Tonwe and members of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, led by Pa JOS Ayomike and others who warned against giving opponents of the event the needed fuel to embark on wanton destruction and mayhem, ensure that law and order was maintained.
Consequently, at about 12:15, the team moved to the house of Ayomike for a private meeting. In spite of the short notice, the expansive living room and courtyard of the octogenarian historian overflowed with guests.
In his address, the host lamented the highhandedness of the state government, which he accused of tyranny and suppression of the freedom to free association. “There is provision for free association in the constitution but they (government) specialise in violating the constitution. In spite of their antics, this is a very great day of blessing. We have achieved the greatest by not succumbing to tyranny,” he added.
A respected human rights activist, university don and former Chairman of the Committee for Defence of Human Rights, Dr Lucky Akaruese was particularly ferocious in lambasting the state government for the action.
While lamenting the action, allegedly instigated by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Akaruese said, “This is another display of the arrogance of power that has become the hallmark of Governor Uduaghan.”
He lamented that Governor Uduaghan, a purported beneficiary of the Itsekiri association with the OPC, would be a stumbling block to the meeting aimed at consolidating it. “He (Uduaghan is a beneficiary in 2007. Obasanjo (former President) assisted him because of this relationship. It is unfortunate and painful that this is happening.”
Dr Akaruese accused the governor of mortgaging the interest of the Itsekiri people for his political ambition. “Uduaghan has his personal interest, but his interest is not the interest of the Itsekiri nation.”
Speaking in the same vein, Prof Tony Afejuku cautioned against allowing a return to the dark days of intimidation. He insisted that the inauguration must hold, asserting that “We are holding the inauguration to tell whoever deployed those policemen that we will not succumb to tyranny.”
Prof Afejuku later moved for the inauguration of the Comrade Hakeem Agboola-led OPC Delta State Chapter. He was supported by AS Mene and a thunderous applause from Itsekiri and Yoruba delegates at the meeting.
Speaking on the event later, Tonwe, who spoke through INYC Public Relations Officer, Comrade Gbubemi Abigor, expressed surprise at the falsehoods conjured about the event. He said it was done to frustrate and thwart the union.
He said the desire of the Itsekiri youth group to associate with their Yoruba counterparts was purely noble, adding, “Our idea is to have contact with our brothers from the west (OPC) and to ensure that we can relate socially, economically, politically etc.”
He said the Itsekiri have so many things to benefit from OPC and the Yoruba nation in general. He said they could benefit through trade, social activities and economically, lamenting that “this very good and noble intention was marred by negative speculations.”
Addressing Pa Ayomike and the ILOT members, including Chief FE Rewane, AS Mene and Mr Edward Ekpoko, both lawyers, and other members of the group, Otunba Adams recalled that the two ethnic groups have a long standing relationship.
He particularly recalled the role played by the late Chief Alfred Rewane in the fight to actualise the June 12 struggle. He said as the major financial and organisational backbone of NADECO, the late Itsekiri leader was instrumental to the success of the group and fight to enthrone a lasting democracy in Nigeria.
He told guest, which included a matriarch of the Rewane family, Chief FE Rewane, who is the Ejumotan of Warri Kingdom, that the assassination of the late Rewane scuttled the efforts of the pro-democracy group.
He clarified that the Oodua Peoples’ Congress was not a fully militant group, but a social, cultural organisation, which aims to position the Yoruba in their pride of place among the comity of nations.
Adams, who was dressed in full white Itsekiri traditional attire (flowing wrapper and shirt) and matching shoes, said the purpose of the visit to the ILOT was to clarify some of the wrong impression about him and the OPC and to see his Itsekiri brothers. He said through his visit, he had “opportunity to understand our people.
“Yoruba constitute almost 2.3percent of the world’s population. We must be organised to coordinate our activities all over the world. Jews have done it before. We want to listen to our people and be useful to them in their time of needs.”
He said the group has paid its dues, stressing that its activities were instrumental to the release of Obasanjo from prison in 1998 and his eventual election as President. He said its role is not different from those of other ethnic organisation fighting for a better deal for its people.
“We have paid our dues to ensure that the Yoruba people are respected in the country. Before now we were called cowards but OPC has shown the world that we are not cowards. But we are not in Itsekiri land to cause trouble,” he stated.
But his visit would have caused trouble, lots of it and Adams knew it: “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.
Pa Ayomike later present copies of one of his books titled ‘Warri: A Focus on The Itsekiri’, to commemorate the historical visit.
The team later left with the leadership of the INYC to the conference hall of the PK Guest House where the NCC meeting was held.
Adams who addressed reporters during the open session, said it was important to show that the NCC of the OPC held in Warri in spite of the initial fiasco.
The events were attended by members of the National Association of Itsekiri Students (NAIS) and their graduate counterparts (NAIG), various other Itsekiri social and cultural organisations, including Prince Frederick Adolor, Akatakpo Omatseye, Lucky Pessu, Mr Wealth Erebo Lori, Isaac Dorse, David Iwere, Mike Odeli and Femi Uwawah.
The OPC delegation included Alhaji Lateef Oladimeji, Oyinlolaawe, Mudashiru Aderibigbe Prince Adniyi Adedipe, Chief (Mrs) Yamanesa Esther, National Iron Lady of OPC; Lasun Ogunfowokan, Waidi Olaniyan and Waidi Olaniyan, among others.
