Ijaw and Urhobo leaders have ordered protesters to vacate occupied oil facilities in Warri after President Tinubu’s intervention aimed at resolving tensions over INEC’s controversial delineation exercise.
Leaders of the Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Delta State’s Warri Federal Constituency have called on protesters occupying oil and gas facilities and blocking waterways in the area to withdraw following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu immediately.
The protests, which began on Monday, were triggered by grievances arising from the implementation of the fresh ward and polling unit delineation exercise conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in compliance with a Supreme Court judgement.
The demonstrations spread across several communities in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West local government areas, leading to the occupation of some oil and gas facilities and the blockade of parts of the Escravos River.
Prominent Ijaw and Urhobo leaders, including Godspower Gbenekama, Victor Okumagba, Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor and Westham Adehor, signed the statement.
According to the leaders, the growing tensions prompted Governor Oborevwori to convene an emergency meeting with Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo representatives in Asaba on 8 June.
They said the continued protests subsequently attracted the intervention of Mr Ekpemupolo, who met leaders of the three ethnic groups in Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, on 9 June and called for restraint to protect oil and gas infrastructure.
The leaders also said that President Tinubu convened a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday with representatives of the three ethnic nationalities.
“At the meeting, Mr President called for compromise, understanding and the need for the Ijaws, Itsekiris and Urhobos to live together as Nigerians,” the statement said.
The leaders said the president appealed for unity among the groups and directed stakeholders to work out a power-sharing arrangement to ensure an equitable distribution of political positions across the three local government areas that make up the constituency.
They said Mr Tinubu also appealed to community leaders to prevail on protesters to end the demonstrations.
“In the light of the foregoing, we, the leaders of Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities of Warri Federal Constituency, after consultation with other stakeholders, hereby call on protesting women, youths and other stakeholders in Ijaw and Urhobo communities to demobilise and vacate all oil and gas facilities occupied in different parts of the constituency and the Escravos River,” the statement said.
The leaders described the decision as a mark of respect for the president and an opportunity for stakeholders to resolve outstanding issues arising from the implementation of the delineation exercise.
They thanked Mr Tinubu, Mr Oborevwori and Mr Ekpemupolo for their timely interventions, which helped de-escalate tensions in the oil-rich area.
PREMIUM TIMES recently reported escalating tensions in the Warri Federal Constituency following disagreements over INEC’s fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units ordered by the Supreme Court.
The dispute has heightened ethnic tensions among the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo communities, with protesters occupying several oil facilities and threatening crude oil production in parts of the Niger Delta.
PREMIUM TIMES also reported that Mr Ekpemupolo had appealed for calm and urged aggrieved groups to avoid actions capable of disrupting critical national assets, while the Presidency denied allegations that President Tinubu interfered in INEC’s delineation exercise.
Thursday’s appeal by Ijaw and Urhobo leaders indicates that stakeholders may be moving towards a negotiated settlement after days of protests that drew national attention and raised concerns about the security of strategic oil and gas infrastructure.
