Olorogun Victor Okumagba JP (middle) dancing before HRM Ogheneochuko Egbobonyen, Orosuen of Okere Urhobo Kingdom Warri shortly after he was conferred with the title of ‘Idjede’ of Okere Urhobo Warri, Delta State.
By Odeyan Ogbetuo
Against the background of Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’) Warri Federal Constituency Ward delineation based on Supreme Court judgment which is almost which has caused ripples among the three ethnic groups: Urhobo, Ijaw and Itsekiri, an Urhobo stalwart and grassroot Politician,Olorogun Victor Okumagba has given cudos to Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) for work done in this regard just as he said nothing would change what INEC has done.
Olorogun Okumagba gave this hint to journalists shortly after he has been conferred with the chieftaincy title of ‘Idjede’ of Okere Urhobo kingdom Warri by His Royal Majesty, Dr. Ogheneochuko Morris Eyekpemi Egbobonyen, Orosuen of Okere Urhobo Kingdom Warri. According to Olorogun Okumagba, neither anybody was oppressed nor cheated, as INEC was guided by the rule of law in carrying out its duty adding, what it has done has brought equity as it has ended lopsidedness and political marginalization in the area.
Olorogun Okumagba said, after eleven years of legal tussle over ward marginalization in Warri, the Supreme Court gave judgement by mandating INEC to go back to Warri and conduct a proper fresh delineation which it did without fear or favour thereby paving way to a true reflection of the area politically. According to him, the Ijaws and Itsekiris should maintain peace as nothing can change the position of Supreme Court judgment. His words: “We approached the Court due to wrong done to us as regards marginalization in ward allocation and waited for eleven years before judgment came.
“In 1996, political wards were created via fiat. That time of 1996 has passed. The Supreme Court says, INEC should go back to Warri and conduct proper fresh delineation of wards. INEC came and did their job and all tribes have equal representation. If the 1996 wards created were not reversed, this will not be reversed, I can assure you”. Chief Okumagba alleged that Itsekiris infiltrated his people with monetary gratifications in order to cause confusion which they quickly to observed just as he said, they put measures in place checkmate it. According to Okumagba, INEC has given Warri South LGA 20 wards constitutionally adding, all what is now is internal amendments, corrections such as the misuse of names, and incorrect naming of units, which according to him, that which has been corrected within one and same sent INEC within one week.