Let us live together as one. 

By

E. God'stime

It is common knowledge in Delta State and an erroneous one at that, that the Itsekiris in the Delta are arrogant, proud looking, puffy and troublesome. Wherever one goes especially among our Urhobo brothers, they tend to treat the Itsekiris with hatred and disdain. Just because you are an Itsekiri will make them to spit at you without even wanting to know who and what you are. It should not be so for goodness sake, the Itsekiris are peace loving, respectful and humble as long as no body is trying to cheat them of what God has given them.

In my school, I have had a lot of confrontations with my Urhobo brothers because they always have slanderous things to say about the Itsekiris. There was this confrontation between me and one of them named Ben because I overheard him saying “The Olu of Warri has been treating them badly: he has been subjecting them to his rules.” I was perplexed when I heard it and so decided to know what was his problem. So I asked him where he came from and he said Ughelli and I asked how did the Olu of Warri treat your people badly. He was not able to give me an answer; the only thing he said was well he is not even from Warri and that he was only talking in respect to the Urhobos in Warri. Then I asked again how did he treat the ones in Warri and he said that he does not know that he is only trying to support Benjamin Okumagba, again I asked him is Okumagba fighting for the Urhobos in Warri or is he even fighting against the perceived injustice. He was not able to give me a coherent answer and so I just ignored him. Like I told him he is one of the people that have been instigating the Urhobos against the Itsekiris. And, I do hope that their libellous acts will not be taken seriously.

I want to use this medium to let the whole Urhobo nation know that the Itsekiris have and hold nothing against any Urhobo. The disagreement between the Itsekiris in Okere and Okumagba is not against the Urhobos or neither is it because he is an Urhobo but because he is a rabble-rouser and does not want the truth to prevail. All he wants is to attain his selfish and personal interest in Warri affairs. I am appealing to the Urhobos that they should not let themselves be deceived or instigated against the Itsekiris by some disgruntled elements that only want to satisfy their selfish needs.

I also want to use this medium to appeal to the whole Niger Delta youths that we should not allow ourselves to be used and deceived by selfish people. The future of a better and united Niger delta rests on our shoulder. The fact that our fathers are enemies does not necessarily means we must follow that route, if we do not define our future then nobody will do it for us. Long live the people of the Niger Delta and Long Live Nigeria.

God'stime Warri, Nigeria.