OKPE UNION CALLS ON ITSEKIRI LEADERS TO HONOR 1943 LAND JUDGEMENT, END TERRITORIAL CLAIMS

The Okpe Union has issued a strong advisory to Itsekiri leaders, urging them to honor a 1943 West African Court of Appeal (WACA) judgement and desist from what it describes as bogus claims on Okpe territories. In a New Year Message to the Okpe Nation, the union decried a blatant demonstration of reckless expansionism by some Itsekiris.

Prof Igho Natufe, President General of Okpe Union Worldwide, presented the message. He stated, “As a nationality that prides itself as a respecter of the rule of law and court judgements, one would expect the Itsekiri Nation to honour the 1943 WACA judgement and desist from all their bogus claims on Okpe territories.”

The union accused Itsekiri leaders of renaming sections where they were historically allowed to reside as refugees with Itsekiri names. Examples provided include changing Etamua to Ogunaja, Amua Ogodo to Aja Ogodo, and a part of Amuokpe to Aja-Sagay.

The message expressed deep concern over the actions of some Itsekiri elements. “The settler equates himself to the indigenes. The Okpe Union demands that Itsekiri leadership call to order these Itsekiri elements who denigrate the sovereignty of the Okpe Nation over its territories. The case of the Itsekiri threat in Sapele should be of serious concern to all Okpe people,” it stated.

The union referenced a Delta State Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the Okpe Sobo Forest Reserve in 2020, established by the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa Administration. It said the claims by Itsekiris of Abigborodo, Obotie and others to indigenous communities in Okpe land were rubbished by the published Record of Proceedings of that Commission.

According to the union, the territorial boundary between Okpe land and Itsekiriland is clearly defined by natural features. “The territorial boundary between Okpe land and Itsekiriland is the stretch of the Hole in the Wall Creek, the tributary that extends into between Sapele and Abigborodo over which the Emmanuel Uduaghan Administration constructed a bridge, to Obotie-Ugbukurusu, to Ikeresan, to Elume River, to Erogho water side, and finally to the water boundary between Ughoton and Omadino over which the James Ibori Administration constructed the Ughoton-Omadino Bridge,” the union clarified. It emphasized that the Itsekiris and the Okpes do not have any land boundaries.

The union called on the Okpe Traditional Council and political leaders, especially the chairmen of the Sapele Local Government Council and the Okpe Local Government Council and representatives in the Delta State House of Assembly, to stand up to their responsibilities as defenders of Okpe sovereignty.

It provided historical context, referencing the Itsekiri civil war known as the “Nana war” of 1894. “Recalling that we opened our doors to welcome Itsekiri fleeing from their civil war and offered them shelter, it now seems that our hospitality has become a curse… The Itsekiri civil war forced scores of Itsekiris to flee their lands and ‘ran for refuge to Sapele where they were granted refuge by the Okpe people’, the owners of Sapele. This was the judgement of the West African Court of Appeal,” the statement read.

The union urged Okpe political leaders, specifically naming Okakuro Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Okakuro Senator Ede Dafinone, Hon. Ben Etanabene, Ekakuro James Augoye and Perkins Umukoro, to begin to articulate and promote Okpe interests in their respective portfolios.

While reaffirming a policy of peaceful coexistence, the union issued a firm warning. “However, let it be known that, by any legitimate means possible, we will strongly defend the territories of the Okpe Nation against intrusions by any ethnic nationality on our sovereignty. While non-Okpe nationals are welcome in Okpe villages and towns; they must not forget that they are guests and not owners of Okpe land.”

The union also proposed a name change for a community association. “The appellation ‘Sapele Okpe Community’ should be changed. It has no conceptual difference with the other ethnic communities in Sapele… A more positive name, for example, Sapele Indigenes Association should be considered as it connotes a definitive and positive meaning,” it concluded.