Francis Sadhere
Woman Leader of Itsekiri ethnic nationality, Chief (Mrs.)Rita-Lori Ogbebor, has called on all Itsekiri sons and daughters of Itsekiri land to approach the coming National Conference with all purpose of sincerity.
She made this plea in Warri, recently, at the Itsekiri National Confab, convened by her and aimed at positioning the Itsekiris on the protracted National Conference.
She noted that right from the creation of Nigeria in 1914, the Itsekiris had been short-changed because of their minority status in the country.
She said; “All our elders, from Chief Arthur Prest, Okotie Eboh and Rewaned have fought to protect us from the disadvantages created by our minority status. Our current leaders, for example, The Iysekiri Leaders of Thought, led by Pa Ayomike, are still fighting.”
She said the Itsekiri will take every opportunity available to them to continue to fight and air their views to the world, stressing that they shall not be tired, afraid and frustrated because they have gone through a lot of things in the hands of Nigeria.
“It is our hope that Nigeria will hear us. We shall tell Nigeria that we are being oppressed, marginalized, defrauded and subjugated. We shall do this with all our might and pray that Nigeria help is and do the right thing,” she added.
“Before the white men came, Itsekiri was a nation. We traded with the white man. We had our king and did everything on our own. But in 1914, a British man called Lord Lugard joined all the different nations of this country together. Out Papa Chief Dore Numa was one of those who signed the treaty,” noted Chief Rita-Lori.
Chief Ogbebor who is also known as the Irojowa and defender of the helpless, also called on Chief Jemide, the Itsekiri nominee, to come out and tell the Itsekiri people that he was going there to represent the Itsekiri people, adding they will no longer tolerate any person that will go there and betray them.
“In the past I used to fight my Itsekiri people with a blunt knife. But this time around I am going to fight anyone who betrays us with a sharp knife. Chief Jemide should come and tell us that he is first and foremost an Itsekiri man and we can stand behind him.”
In his address, Chairman of the occasion, Barrister Fred Agbeyegbe said that though the Itsekiri nation now had a nominee for the National conference, he was concerned if a single individual can represent them adequately.
He noted that the Itsekiri leaders had never sat down at any forum to discuss the problem of the Itsekiris, stressing that this Itsekiri National Conference was the first of its kind meant to discuss their issues.
While thanking Chief Egbebor for convening the conference, Barrister Agbeyegbe said that despite the fact that some people in the country have tried to take advantage of the Itsekiris because of their minority status, the Itsekiris were still standing tall.
He said; “Some people believe that we the Itsekiris are a threat to them. But we thank God that we have survived through it all. We must have a say as a how we determine our future and the future of our children.”
