S’South Regional Editor SHOLA O’NEIL examines the hurdles before the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, as he moves to sweep the Augean stable in his kingdom, against the backdrop of entrenched interests of his chiefs, those who participated in his coronation and interests of the Itsekiri nation.
No doubt, the Olu of Warri Ogiame Ikenwoli inherited a fractured kingdom at is ascension unto the throne on December 12, 2015. The massive crowd of singing and dancing Itsekiri people, didn’t hide the fact that Iwere (Warri), their homeland was badly in need of redemption; it was a display of their belief and hope that they have a king who would defy the cabal in the kingdom to do the needful.
But the heavy sound of gunfire that erupted around his palace on Tuesday was not only a rude shock to the monarch, but it was a reality check of sort. For the first time in years, guns boomed around Ajamimogha, Ekurede-Itsekiri and Ugbori enclaves of Warri. It was reminiscent of the Ijaw/Itsekiri war.
The grating sound from sophisticated weapons that rang out like cathedral bells in quick succession was not from Ijaw warlords/militants or Urhobo combatants. The shooters were disgruntled Itsekiri youths dissatisfied (or happy) with the monarch’s annulment of the board of the Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC) hurriedly (some say illegally) constituted by Mr Michael Diden (Ejele).
The pronouncement of the monarch annulling the election (selection) of one Austen Gbokwa, a perennial member of the board as Chairman is a subject of litigation. But, not satisfied with the pace of the legal firework, the protagonist took up arms and invaded the streets. The shootout started from the Sapele court premises before the recalcitrant shooters export the fracas to Warri.
“Kpenje people are those who would rather share the commonwealth of the Itsekiri among themselves and hand out pittance to their hangers-on, who they use to terrorise those bold enough to question them,” one source said.
Ikenwoli (former Prince Godfrey Ikenwoli Emiko) ascended the throne amidst high hopes and expectations. He came as the much needed reformer to right the plethora of wrongs and wipe away the stench of impunity, corruption and brigandage in the kingdom.
Some of the ethnic leaders in various positions have being accused of using it to reap benefits at the detriment of the larger kingdom. Some of these persons gravitated towards the monarch in the hope that their closeness would help cement their privileged positions. They include traditional, political and communal titleholders who strove to be seen during the coronation process.
The antecedents of the new monarch positioned him as an antithesis of his late brother and 19th Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II. The late Olu’s action and deeds were blamed for the odium that pervaded the land and the common folks looked up to Ikenwoli as their redeemer.
Outside the kingdom, there were also expectations of improved relations between the Itsekiri and their neighbours: notable the Urhobos in Warri mainland and the Ijaws of the riverside communities. Having fought a fratricidal war that consumed a large portion of the Itsekiri small population and pulverized their inhabitations, deep-seated anger, hatred and suspicion persists between them and their Ijaw neighbours.
Shortly after his coronation, Ikenwoli embarked on a shuttle that took him through the length and breadth of kingdoms in the state. He visited Ijaw monarchs – the first Olu to do so in years. He visited Urhobo kingdoms both within and outside his locality, as far as to Okpe and nearby Uvwie.
The visits brought promises of better understanding, cooperation and promises of peace.
The success of Ogiame Ikenwoli’s ‘foreign’ trips contrasted starkly with division within his kingdom. His subjects and chiefs are embroiled in battle for the control of the kingdom’s resources. No strife highlights this better than the IRDC debacle.
The IRDC is a product of the Global Memorandum of Understand (GMoU) that American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited signed with Itsekiri oil producing communities. The instrument puts the development of the oil bearing communities in the hands of locals, who through representatives in the IRDC determine projects in their land.
With a budget of over one billion naira annually, the IRDC is a strategic ‘office’ in the land. Its annual budgets dwarf of many local government councils. They have only a handful of staff and oodles of money for project execution. Projects are executed by contractors and whoever holds the position of Chairman of the council mostly determines how the broth is shared.
For nearly a decade, the leadership of the council was held by Mr Mofe Pirah, until he was appointed a commissioner by the last administration. His tenure was completed by Chief Ayiri Emami, effervescent businessman and oil contractor. Still, those who had served from inception reorganized and shuffled their position in what was seen as move to perpetuate control of the council.
Beyond the leadership of the IRDC, leadership disputes pervade Itsekiri communities from Koko to Omadino, Ugbegungun, Deghele and the Ugborodo. With youth groups holding sway in these communities, elections into youth bodies became fiercer and more intense than some political offices. Men of over 50 – 60 year olds remained ‘youths’ and scrambled for leadership positions such as the Itsekiri National Youth Council.
“Community chairmen became ‘Robert Mugabes’ – when the end of their constitutionally allowed tenure draws near, they instigate review of the constitution. For instance, a man who has served the allowed two terms would review the constitution and make it one term of six-years. He then wipes his slate clean and make himself eligible for the new deal,” outspoken youth leader and activist, Comrade Omolubi Newuwumi, told our reporter.
“You also find same leaders roaming around being Jack of all trades. When there is opportunity for dredging, labour, piling sand-filling contracts, they would show up and use their position to muscle out others. Others cannot grow. They stifle themselves too because by so doing they don’t specialize in any area; they do all and master none. Those in political offices, including House of Assembly, still angle for community leadership. They run to Chevron and other oil companies to lobby for contracts because they don’t want those around them to grow.
“This is why the larger portion of Itsekiri leaders and the common men who mean well strongly backed the Olu’s declaration on community leadership across the land. We all know that we cannot grow as a people with all these untowardly action of a few at the detriment of the larger society.”
But it was not only the Kpenje lords that attracted the attention of the monarch. In a far reaching declaration after consultations with chiefs and stakeholders in the kingdom, Ogiame Ikenwoli pegged the maximum age of youth group membership at 40 years.
He also directed that all Olare-Ajas (traditional heads) of the various communities must the resident in their communities in order to avoid the ‘offshore leadership style’ that has become the norm over the years.
Speaking on the development, Mr Sunny Mene, an opinion leader and member of the influential Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, said the monarch’s directive was the way to go, insisting, “There has to be far reaching reforms in the kingdom. People cannot continue to do as they wish.”
On the IRDC impasse, Mene averred: “We are solidly behind the Ogiame and all responsible and respectful Itsekiri people are behind him. We know those who are mobilizing and trying to counter the Olu. All those who have served one term and are angling to return for selfish reasons cannot subvert the will of the Itsekiri people.”
“They went to court to obtain a preliminary injunction restraining the Olu from swearing in exco constituted by the Olu. We respect and appreciate those who stepped down like Chief Ayiri Emami and Dan Odongharon but those who refused most be showed that there is law in the land.
“It is wrong for some persons, because of their closeness to government and corridors of power, to assume that they can represent host communities without conferring with the Ogiame and leaders. It was very wrong what they did to constitute themselves into cabal.”
However, the strength of the Olu’s resolve and by extension those of the larger Itsekiri people will be measured by time. There is said to be an underground scheme to pitch the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa against the monarch.
“We know they are going about blackmailing the king to the governor. They are telling him that the Olu wants to fill the board with non-PDP persons. They want to scare the governor and make him dabble into a purely ethnic matter but we are watching. Nobody can intimidate the Olu as long as he is on the path of righteousness and defence of his people,”Mene said.
Meanwhile, Niger Delta Report gathered that the recalcitrant youths behind the shooting have apologised to the monarch and the council of chiefs. But the extent of their repentance can only be proven by time.
Meanwhile, Omolubi has advised that the Olu Advisory Council, headed by Chief Yaya Pessu and comprising prominent Itsekiri persons, including Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, Prof Itse Sagay, JOS Ayomike and Edward Ekpoko, among others to handle some issues in order to insulate the monarch from the controversy.
“It is only when the council is unable to adequately resolve it that Ogiame should be involved because we value our king too much to allow some miscreant and others who don’t mean well for our people to disrespect him,” he added.
In the interim, an uneasy calm has pervaded the land over the IRDC controversy. There are still more battles to be fought in the months and years ahead for the Olu of Warri. One of those issues is the alleged corruption in management of Itsekiri share of DESOPADEC oil fund.
