The Itsekiri people have dismissed claims made by the Urhobo Oil and Gas Nationality (UROAGAN) regarding oil and gas production in Delta State. UROAGAN’s assertions have been described as false, misleading, and a desperate attempt to take over Itsekiri homeland.

The Itsekiri people maintain that they are the highest producers of oil and gas in Delta State, with numerous oil wells and fields located in their territory. They accused UROAGAN of falsifying figures and attempting to annex their oil wealth.

The transfer of Ukpokiti land to Omadino has also been condemned by the Itsekiri people, who view it as an unlawful violation of their rights. They demand fair representation in DESOPADEC and NDDC, citing marginalization despite their significant contributions to the state’s oil and gas production.

The Itsekiri people see UROAGAN’s claims as a manifestation of “Urhobo wayo” (Urhobo deception) and a bid for political patronage. They vow to protect their rights and interests, warning that no tribe can conquer them, even with government support.

The Itsekiri people’s rejection of UROAGAN’s claims is a testament to their determination to safeguard their homeland and resources. They will not be silenced or marginalized, and they demand justice and fair representation.

The Press release reads

RE: PRESENTATION OF THE COMPILATION OF URHOBO OIL AND GAS FACILITIES, VOL 1 TO DISTINGUISHED SENATORS AND HON MEMBERS REPRESENTING URHOBO ETHNIC NATIONALITY AT THE 10TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AT THE SENATE BUILDING, ABUJA NIGERIA BY URHOBO OIL AND GAS NATIONALITY (UROAGAN), THIS DAY, THURSDAY 27TH JUNE 2024

Our attention has been drawn to a presentation purportedly made by the National Chairman of the Urhobo Oil and Gas Nationality (UROAGAN)- Chief Dr Obiuwevbi Ominimini to Urhobo legislators in the National Assembly 

Ordinarily, such presentation wouldn’t have concerned us as every Nigerian Citizen has a right to freedom of speech as enshrined in the Constitution, but for the fact that the Chairman of UROAGAN made bogus claims, reel out fictitious figures, and attempted falsification of facts on major aspects of the presentation that concerns us, we have decided to set the records straight especially as the so called presentation is being shared across various social media platforms. 

We have stated at several fora that the reason for the Warri crisis was to take over the Itsekiri homeland because of her oil wealth, and day by day we are more convinced that this is the only agenda of the Urhobos and their Ijaw ally so they can get more political recognition and allocations from both state and federal government. 

On taking a cursory look at the UROAGAN presentation, we identified some repugnant statements highlighted below for emphasis which we will like to address a few of them;

* Urhobo has 350 Oil Wells, over 15 flow stations, and over 20 gas flare sites, thereby making the Urhobo people the highest producers of Oil & Gas in Delta State.

* Agbarah Kingdom, Warri South (erroneously referred to as Agbarah Warri Kingdom), & Okere Urhobo Kingdom. 

* Urhobos not in any enviable office in NNPCL, or any strategic business units e.g NNPC E & P Limited (erroneously referred to as NPDC), NUPRC, NAPIMS, NMDPRA, WRPC, PHRCL, KPRCL, NGMC, NGIC, etc

* Unlawful transfer of Ukpokiti land to Omadino

* Urhobo as highest producers of crude oil are being shortchanged in DESOPADEC 

* Urhobo having little return in NDDC

URHOBO HAS 35O OIL WELLS, OVER 15 FLOW STATIONS, AND 20 GAS FLARE SITES.

This is one of the most bizarre assumptions of the century, and it is really laughable aside the fact that its figures are bogus without specifically mentioning the location or fields these oil Wells are located. If we chose to accept this statement without conceding that UROAGAN is right, the figures does not even put the Urhobos as the highest producers of Oil and Gas in Delta State.

It is based on the above premise that we want to restate our position as has been said several fora that the Itsekiri people of Warri Kingdom with aboriginal communities in Delta South, Delta Central, and Edo State are not just the highest producers of Oil and Gas in Delta but also in Edo State. 

We wish to inform the ignorant UROAGAN that Oil and Gas production from wells in Okan field, Meji field, Meta Field, and Meren field alone surpasses the 350 Wells being falsely allocated to the Urhobos. This is aside oil Wells found in Maru field, Mefa field, Meje field, Mejo field, mesan field, Dibi Field, Olero field, Abiteye, Macaraba, etc.

Only the Oil Wells in OML 150 Communities in Warri South is more than 350. 

We wonder why the said Chairman of UROAGAN did not find his voice of agitation whe he was a Commissioner of the Urhobos in DESOPADEC.

We cannot tell if these figures were quoted out of the biting effect of the current Nigeria economy or as a result of dementia.

AGBARAH KINGDOM, WARRI SOUTH (erroneously referred to him as Agbarah Warri Kingdom), & OKERE URHOBI KINGDOM

First, there is nothing like Agbarah Warri Kingdom in Warri Metropolis or Warri South Local Government Area. It is either the UROAGAN is just playing to the gallery of some misguided youths on social media or they are being carried away by the “spur of the moment” as this is the second time in the history of the Agbarah migrants in Warri to be receiving a staff of office from the Delta State Government or any Government in Nigeria. 

The Idimi-usobo Kingdom now referred to as Okere Urhobo is a quarter in Okere Community and as such won’t waste my ink to dwell on it. 

The fact is that the Urhobos in Warri are customary tenants to the Itsekiris and there is no amount of blackmail or barrels of the gun that can change that just like a leopard cannot change its skin.

UNLAWFUL TRANSFER OF UKPOKITI LAND IN WARRI SOUTY TO IMADINO IN ITSEKIRI 

We find it distasteful and absurd that a body headed by a so called chief will condescend so low to spew lies before the Nigerian Parliament and general public that the Agbarah customary tenants in Warri now have a community in Omadino Land. We wonder which location Omadino is that they refered to as Itsekiri in their presentation.

Omadino Land is in Warri South, and Warri South West. 

URHOBO AS HIGHEST PRODUCERS OF CRUDE OIL AND GAS ARE BEING SHORTCHANGED IN DESOPADEC

Judging from the write up, we could deduce that the so called chief of UROAGAN is only seeking political patronage to feather his nest and that of his political godfather who has recently been condemn into political oblivion. 

How do you explain the fact that the Chairman of UROAGAN made this bogus claim without quoting or referencing any empirical data or even at least mention the locations of the Wells oil fields or Wells that made Urhobo the largest producer of Oil & Gas. 

We are ashamed that a tribe that pride itself as the fifth largest ethnic group in Nigeria can come this low only just to prove to the public that the popular maxim “urhobo wayo” is true.

The DESOPADEC governing laws made under an urhobo Goevrnor in an Urhobo dominated State House of Assembly passed a the DESOPADEC laws skewed in favour of the Urhobos.

First, the allocation accrued to the board was unlawfully divided into two halves just to tale our money to fund the development of Urhobo dry landscape. Also, the composition of the board has seen the Urhobos being the biggest beneficiary despite the fact that they claim the Itsekiris have the highest production quantum in the state since the inception of the board.

Since the Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori tenure, Allocation based on quantum sharing has been jettison. This is despite the fact that the Urhobos has 3 commissioners as captured below;

1. Sapele/Okpe/Oghara

2. Udu/Uvwie/Urhobo of Warri

3. Ughelli South/Ughelli North/Kokori

The Itsekiris on the other hand has just one Commissioner since inception. It may interest UROAGAN to know that we are putting modalities in place to stop the further plundering of our oil wealth through DESOPADEC without recourse to the laws establishing it by the Delta State Government. 

URHOBO HAVING LITTLE RETURN IN NDDC

This is another fallacy as the Urhobos have been the biggest beneficiary of the NDDC since its inception. This is despite the Urhobos not being eligible/first to produce either the Chairman or Managing Director by the enabling laws before the Itsekiris.

Despite this, the Urhobos have produced Chairmen, Managing Directors, Executive Directors, various Directors, Commissioners, Heads of Departments, more employees than any other ethnic Nationality in Delta State, and probably the Niger Delta.

The Urhobos needs to stop playing the victims card when in true sense they have marginalised other tribes in Delta State in all ramifications especially the Itsekiri people, annexing our homelands in Delta Central, trying to subsume our people by continously using the Urhobo controlled Delta State government and their population to ensure that all Itsekiri Aboriginal Communities in Delta Central does not have any meaningful projects, developed, or allow to contest for any elective position (despite some of them contributing to the Oil and Gas the Urhobos are laying claim to). Our homeland in Warri Kingdom (Warri North, Warri South, Warri South-West) are being threatened daily by the Urhobos with major support from the Ijaws who are envious of the fact that despite all they have done during the Warri Crisis to annex our homeland and Oil Wells, they have fallen short of their targets and expectations. 

Finally, we wish to put it on record that the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality is the most oppressed, marginalised, and disenfranchised in terms of political appointments, citing of critical projects, employment, etc despite us being the highest producers of Oil and Gas in Nigeria.

Despite all of the above, one thing is sure, no tribe in Nigeria can conquer us even with the instrumentality of government.

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