As more angry reactions continue to trail the recent release of the names of 492 delegates to the National Conference, which is due to be inaugurated on March 17, the Itsekiri in Delta State on Saturday protested their exclusion from the conference, threatening to break-away if the anomaly was not urgently redressed.
“Our exclusion from the confab is the last straw and we are prepared to go out of Nigeria”, an Itsekiri leader, Chief (Mrs) Rita Lori-Ogbebor fumed.
“We woke up yesterday, the 7th of March, 2014 to find that no Itsekiri name was among the delegates attending the confab. This means the interest of the Itsekiri man or woman is not important in the scheme of this country”, she explained.
She went on: “We are not surprised because this shameless subjugation and marginalisation of the Itsekiri people have been with us for many years due to extreme jealousy.
“The Itsekiri nation has been in existence for over 700 years. Our Chief Dore Numa representing the Olu of Warri was one of those who signed the amalgamation treaty in 1914.
“If the Itsekiri nation was recognized as a nation in 1914, how come that the Itsekiri canot have a say today in the structural review of this country that will bring us peace. Let nobody be deceived. Whether you like it or not, Itsekiri, as a nation, contributes more than any nation to our revenue-in oil and gas.
“The Itsekiri are pained. We have endured this marginalisation and subjugation for too long. We also want to note that it is only the Itsekiris that can choose their representatives. It is our right and no one can take it from us. The people around us have sworn to make our life miserable. They have taken our lands. Our exclusion from the confab is the last straw and we are prepared to go out of Nigeria”, the well-respected Itsekiri leader threatened.
Threatend na water,action na blood. Chief Mrs Rita Lori Ogbebor we need blood & not water.
Ishekiri should be given right to decide their destiny, the south-south should not try to claimed para-Yoruba ethnic through mere geography, the present truggle in nigeria is beyound mere geography but ethnical sovereignty struggle from been dominated by other, their is a destinct boundery in term of culture and ways of life between Ishekiri man and Igbo man, or with Ijo or with Uhrobo man or woman,Ishekiri speak related Yoruba language and any Ishekiri that leave in his fellow Yoruba land, between 2 to 3 months he or she will understand the mode of talking their,an Ishekiri person is not to lean Yoruba language, Ishekiri person already speakin para-Yoruba language, is only to understand the way of talking of where he or she shoose to live his life between his Yoruba kingdred,Shekiri share boundery with his Yoruba brethren of Ilaje people, Shekiri rest as point of Yoruba boundery with east or with south-south, Yoruba stand up and fight for the interest of Yoruba brethren Shekiri and they have to be represented at the national confrence to decide their destiny.