Chief Okumagba’s show of shame at NSA office, a betrayal of Urhobo Nation
The recent controversy involving Chief Victor Okumagba at the National Security Adviser (NSA) office centers on his claim that the Ijaw people owned some communities and outnumber the Itsekiris in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
This has sparked strong reactions from the Urhobo nation, who are determined to protect their communities from what they describe as land grabbers and political misrepresentation.
They accuse Chief Victor Okumagba and others like Chief John Erabor, Chief Isaac Emifoniye, and Comrade Stanley Agbosa of being self-appointed representatives working for personal gain and allegedly siding with Ijaw interests.
These individuals are labeled “Enemies of Urhobo” for allegedly ceding Agbarha Warri wards to the Ijaw.
Meanwhile, Victor Okumagba has also asserted that the Itsekiri people have no ancestral roots in Warri Township, further complicating ethnic tensions in the area.
Chief Victor Okumagba’s statement about Ijaw numerical superiority has intensified ethnic disputes in Warri South LGA, with the Urhobo nation strongly rejecting his claims and accusing him of betrayal and political misrepresentation.
Chief Mathias Olowu, a media consultant for the Urhobo in Warri local government, in a statement described the actions of Chief Okumagba and his associates as a “show of shame” and a generational insult to the Urhobo people.
Chief Mathias Olowu criticized Chief Victor Okumagba for telling the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, that the Ijaws outnumber the Itsekiris in Warri South, saying it only confirms that Okumagba took money from the Ijaws.
Mathias pointed out that the Ijaws have never produced a councilor in Warri South but now have been allocated 3 wards, meaning they will produce 3 councilors, which he described as wrong and unacceptable to the Urhobo people.
He challenged them to provide evidence of any Ijaw person being buried in Warri South, emphasizing that markets named after ethnic groups (like Ogbe Ijaw market) do not confer land ownership.
Ancestral values and legal documents confer land ownership rights on both the Urhobo and Itsekiri in Warri South, and not by mere wishful thinking
According to Chief Mathias, the naming of Ogbe Ijaw market after a particular ethnic group is merely nominal, as it was originally due to Ijaw women trading fish in the area, and does not imply Ijaw ownership of the land. Similarly, he noted that the Hausa market and Igbo market do not grant land ownership to Hausa and Igbo traders.
Chief Mathias Olowu praised Urhobo patriots like Chief Westham Adehor and Hon. Mark Ikpuri for their courageous and unwavering defense of Urhobo interests at the National Security Adviser (NSA) office on Monday.
He highlighted their strong commitment to protecting the rights and heritage of the Urhobo people amid ongoing disputes in Warri South LGA.
Urhobo Counter Distorts Narrative, Revealing Facts: Ijaw Do Not Own Any Community in Warri South LGA
According to Chief Olowu, the duo of Chief West and Hon. Ikpuri clearly presented the Urhobo position to the NSA, firmly stating that there is no Ijaw presence anywhere in Warri South.
Their bold stand has earned them widespread respect and support from Urhobo sons and daughters both within Nigeria and abroad, reinforcing their roles as authentic and dedicated representatives of the Urhobo nation.
The conflict is part of a broader struggle over land ownership, political representation, and the implementation of Supreme Court-mandated electoral delineation in the area.
