The Urhobos of Warri Disown Westham Adehor and Mark Ikpuri, Affirms Ijaw Indigeneity in Warri South LGA in an Open Letter to NSA Nuhu Ribadu
* Urges INEC to Complete Exercise Based on Field Data
—By Wilson Macaulay
In a strongly worded and historically grounded open letter, prominent Urhobo leaders from Warri South Local Government Area have disassociated themselves from recent claims made by Chief Westham Adehor and Hon. Mark Ikpuri, declaring that both individuals lack the mandate or authority to speak on behalf of the Urhobo ethnic nationality within the Warri Federal Constituency.
The letter, addressed to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was signed by respected Urhobo figures: Olorogun Victor Okumagba, JP, Chief John Eranvor, Chief Isaac Emifoniye, and Comrade Stanley Agbosa.
The Urhobo leaders in the letter categorically affirmed that the Ijaws are indigenous people of Warri South LGA, and condemned any attempt—however veiled or overt—to erase their legitimate historical and constitutional presence in the area.
“We, the undersigned respected sons of Urhobo extraction from Warri South Local Government Area, write with a deep sense of responsibility in the interest of justice, peace, and sustainable coexistence in Warri Federal Constituency to respond to the misleading and divisive claims made by Chief Westham Adehor and Hon. Mark Ikpuri regarding the status of the Ijaw people within Warri South LGA,” the letter read.
The leaders stated unequivocally that the Ijaws are not only part of the social and cultural fabric of Warri South but have contributed significantly to its economic and political development over the decades. Citing key riverine settlements such as Ogbe-Ijoh—bordering Warri South and recognized as the headquarters of Warri South-West—they pointed out that Ijaw communities have long coexisted within the LGA and have historical roots predating current political delineation processes.
On the contentious issue of electoral boundary delineation, the Urhobo signatories lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for initiating the fresh delineation exercise in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive. They stressed that INEC’s use of field data must be respected and preserved as a reflection of the actual demographic and geographic realities of Warri South, warning against any form of political manipulation designed to disenfranchise any group.
“It is disturbing that some individuals, under the pretext of representing ‘Urhobos of Warri South,’ would resort to such narrow and unpatriotic narratives that seek to erase the existence of fellow Deltans,” the letter continued. “Any attempt to skew the facts or deny any ethnic group their rightful recognition under any guise will amount to a grave injustice and could incite avoidable tension.”
The Urhobo leaders emphasized that the claim of exclusion from the NSA’s stakeholders’ meeting should not be hijacked as a pretext to undermine the legitimacy of other ethnic nationalities. Instead, they suggested a more inclusive approach—calling for the expansion of stakeholders’ engagement to accommodate all concerned parties fairly and transparently.
“We urge the Office of the NSA to be wary of any divisive tendencies and to ensure that its interventions uphold the principles of justice, equity, and inclusiveness for all relevant stakeholders. Only this path will guarantee lasting peace for the three ethnic nationalities of Ijaw, Urhobo, and Itsekiri,” they stated.
In conclusion, the Urhobo leaders called on INEC to remain resolute and conclude the delineation process based strictly on verified field evidence and observed population realities. They cautioned that yielding to politically motivated pressures rooted in clannish interests would undermine the greater good and fracture the fragile peace currently holding Warri together.
The letter has sparked wide public interest and is seen as a powerful reaffirmation of the unity and shared heritage among Warri’s indigenous nationalities—a move observers say is vital for peace-building and democratic inclusion in the in the political configuration of Warri South LGA.
