The continued
implementation of the Land Use Decree to oppress states that
have oil and protecting other states in the North and West
that have rich solid minerals.
The Federal Government's
activities indicate that oil producing areas are just colonies
to be exploited as a result of the Land Use Decree. The
Federal Government of Nigeria in the Niger Delta instigates
fighting to ensure Federal Government exploitation to prevent
concerted demand from the people of the area. Hence today the
true Delta State comprising the Old Delta province has not
been created and Warri remains the only provincial capital and
not a capital of a state. Anioma was excised from Benin
province and turned into a state but it is called Delta State
with capital at Asaba. Delta State has not yet been created.
The Federal Government
has supported the Olu of Warri over the ages to establish
discriminatory institutions in Warri since 1950 when he moved
from Ode Itsekiri in Escravos to Warri. The Federal Government
supports the determination of the Olu who is actually a
descendant of one exiled Benin Prince to establish a domain in
Warri to compare with Benin Kingdom. The reaction of Urhobo
and Ijaw led to the change of Warri province to Delta
Province, when Awolowo changed the title of Olu of Itsekiri to
Olu of Warri province to become the only traditional ruler in
Warri province. The Itsekiri language is an Ilaje dialect. The
titles of Olu and Atuwese were given at Ilaje in Ijebu before
arrival in Warri. If Dasuki who was exiled from Sokoto to
Taraba State, was allowed to stay in Taraba State a similar
Warri situation would have been created.
Warri is a small area
established in 1926 as a result of a Privy Council decision in
London before the arrival of the Itsekiris in the area. Warri
was a crown land for British administration in Warri province,
later Delta province. Awolowo later extended the boundary of
Warri township to include the owners of the land i.e. Agbasa
and Igbudu people who were made to pay ground rent to the Olu
in 1952. The situation was restored in 1966 by the Midwestern
Region Military Governor. The land Awolowo gave to the Olu was
claimed back by the traditional owners through a court action.
The original founders of Warri that is the Urhobos and Ijaws
now own their lands in Warri legally.
The local governments
around Warri town are called Warri North Local Government
Area, Warri South Local Government Area and Warri South-West
Local Government Area. The Olu claims control of these three
LGAs because of the name Warri attached to them. Hence the Olu
connives with the oil companies to collect money and
gratifications offered by the oil companies operating in the
three LGAs without recourse to Ijaws who own the land in the
Riverine areas between Warri and Escravos. Urhobos and Ijaws
are not employed in the Local Government. The Federal
Government tells the Ijaws that the land and the minerals that
is, oil belongs to the federal government but yet allows only
the Olu to reap all the benefits from the oil companies. The
neglected Ijaw and Urbobo youths in the area are not employed
by the oil companies. The oil companies employ only Itsekiri,
Ibo and Yoruba youths mainly through the advice of the Olu.
The neglected youths who
can no longer be assisted by their fathers have since
discovered that they have to fight for their existence. The
arms given to them by the politicians who have now ignored
them after election are now being used for armed robbery,
under the cover of the purported Warri problem. The ruling
Peoples Democratic Party does not support the idea of a
democratic government. Hence, it interferes with Local
Government administration so as to continue with its unitary
system of government.
From the above, you can
deduct that the problems of Warri are caused by the Federal
and State Governments through their support for the Olu to
oppress the original owners of the land and to rubbish the
sanity of the area with activities of the politically armed
rebellious youth. However, the problems can be addressed
through a sober consideration of the following measures: