Ward Delineation: Ijaw Leader insists Ugbanabou community is part of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom
Ezekiel Kagbala
A prominent Ijaw leader from Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area Delta State, Chief (Comrade) Bené Youkore Mamamu has declared that "Ugbanabou community is indeed part of the Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom".
Mamamu's assertion was coming on the heels of an online publication by the Chairman of Ugbanabou, Mr. Alex Ebi Fenimine, who claimed that Ugbanabou is not under the jurisdiction of Ogbe-Ijoh but Diebiri.
While insisting that Ugbanabou is not under Diebiri but under Ogbe-ljoh Warri Kingdom, Mamamu warned Alex Ebi Fenimine to retract his purported claim, describing it as "erroneous, misleading and unacceptable".
Mamamu further blamed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allegedly manipulating its ward re-delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency to the detriment of Ogbe-Ijoh leading to unending controversial territorial claim and drumbeat of conflicts.
He however dismissed Ugbanabou's affiliation with Diebiri, insisting that "Ugbanabou belongs to Ogbe-ljoh and the matter is not open for negotiation".
"Ugbanabou is part of Ogbe-Ijoh, and we will take all necessary steps to ensure that this truth is recognized and respected," he further stated.
Mamamu threatened to take legal action against all those involved in making erroneous claims over Ugbanabou community.
Bené Mamamu in his signed statement, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Thursday, expressed discontent with Fenimine's assertions which he further labeled as "misleading" and "a distortion of historical facts".
Mamamu emphasized that "Ugbanabou has always been an integral part of the Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom", citing historical documents and traditional narratives that support his claim.
Mamamu's statement partly reads, "Diebiri people of Warri-South-West Local Government Area including the chairman knew that Ugbanabou is not under them and is not part of Diebiri, hence such malicious claim does not emanate from Diebiri chairman.
"Ugbanabou is an ancient village belonging to Ogbe-ljoh and is far older than many communities and Kingdoms, I challenge Mr. Alex Ebi Fenimine to publish any legitimate document or authority that shows that Ugbanabou which was the slave Coast of the colonial era is under Ogbe-ljoh not part of Diebiri.
"Alex Ebi Fenimine claims are not only dubious but malicious, damaging and capable of causing breach of peace, I hereby called on security agencies to investigate him and if found wanting, he should be made to face the law".
