Chief Westham Adehor is the Eguono of Agbarha-Warri and Osia of Okere-Urhobo kingdoms in Warri, and also the Urhobo ethnic nationality’s focal person in INEC exercise. He spoke with Elo Edremoda, emphasizing that the ethnic groups are better off as partners in progress rather than adversaries.EXCERPTS:
On Credibility of INEC ward delineation exercise
We at the Agbarha-Warri axis are conducting our own verification. Once we confirm that the coordinates (longitude and latitude) in our area are accurate, we’ll make our position known. If you look around Warri and its environs, most of the city’s population resides in Agbarha-Warri and Okere-Urhobo communities. That shows how significant our presence is.
Itsekiris’ claim that Urhobos are customary tenant
That’s not true. The Urhobos, particularly Agbarha-Warri, have been in Warri long before colonial contact. We have two riverine communities, Ukpokiti and Oteghele, and five in the urban area.
When the Portuguese first arrived, they met Agbarha people on the ground and exchanged gifts. Later, the British came and signed treaties directly with our ancestors. Unfortunately, copies of those treaties were destroyed when the Itsekiris burnt the house of Igbi, the first Okuovo of Agbarha-Warri. But when we checked the British archives, we found the original records confirming our ownership.
Even the courts acknowledged that once we locate the treaty, it remains valid evidence of our ownership. So, how can people we signed treaties with claim we don’t own our land? As for the Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, one of their families was taken to court by the Olu, and they won at the Supreme Court. The judgment clearly states that Okere-Urhobo was founded by three Urhobo brothers.
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We Urhobos are peace-loving and accommodating. We intermarry with our Itsekiri and Ijaw neighbours. Every family here has ties across ethnic lines. The truth is simple: the Urhobos are not tenants in Warri.
There was even a court case over Warri Cemetery. The land belonged to the Ejenavo family from Agbassa. When the British wanted to pay £21 in compensation, the Olu demanded £13. The court rejected that claim, awarding £15 to Agbassa as community property, £5 to the Ejenavo family, and just £1 to the Olu. That clearly shows ownership. Everyone knows their boundaries: Agbarha has its land, Okere-Urhobo has theirs, and the Itsekiri have theirs.
On delayed implementation of delineation exercise
INEC is following due process. The initial report had some errors, and we’ve identified and submitted them for correction. We’ve also engaged the offices of the National Security Adviser and the Attorney General to ensure fairness and transparency.
Each group has presented its documents to justify claims over certain areas, and INEC is reviewing them. Once corrections are made, the final delineation will be published. There’s no need for violence. Anyone who feels aggrieved should follow the proper channels. I’m confident the government will do the right thing.
We must all live together peacefully. Leadership can be shared, if today an Urhobo man is council chairman, an Itsekiri or Ijaw can be vice chairman, and vice versa. We just need mutual respect and must stop using derogatory words like “tenants” or “slaves.” The Nigerian Constitution is clear: anyone who has lived in a place for ten years can vote and be voted for. We should focus on coexistence, not division.