1994
I would like to enjoin the elders and leaders of the Urhobo
and Itsekiri groups in the Delta metropolis of Warri to
seriously consider the option of a negotiated settlement in
the resolution of their differences. I am encouraged to make
this recommendation because the inter-ethnic bickering and
feuds by Warri indigenes over the years have been conducted
with a native self-restraint and civility in the face of the gravest
of provocations, hard to come across anywhere else in Nigeria.
Ethnic and intra-tribal clashes in places like Isoko, Ogoni-Adoni,
Ogoni-Okrika, Nembe-Kalabari, and other places in Cross River
and Benue States, in recent times, testify in their gory details,
to the relative civility of the traditional people of Warri in the
face of seemingly irreconcilable differences. This quality alone
has been the magic behind the fact that the century-long
Urhobo-Itsekiri disagreements have not had any significant
impact on the social and inter-personal relations between
people of the two ethnic groups whether in Warri or in Sapele
(where there is another concentration of mixed ethnic groups).
Over the years, the Urhobo and Itsekiri of Warri have
demonstrated enviable faith in the civil instruments and
processes of seeking redress, which ensures relatively
amicable resolution of conflicts. At this time when events point
to a possible destruction of their fore-fathers’ heritage of
peaceful coexistence, respect for strangers, participation in and
respect for the cultures of neighbouring people, inter-tribal
marriage, co-operation in the face of foreign exploitation, etc.,
there is the need for an emergency delegates conference of all
Warri indigenes to be immediately convened to discuss all
areas of ethnic perceptual incongruence.
Given the traditional accommodativeness of the traditional
indigenes of Warri town, I am positive that bi-lateral talks, no
matter how rough these might initially be, would, in the long
run, yield the fruit of preserving the tradition of peaceful co-
existence, co-operation and mutual respect handed by the
fathers to the children of this generation.
