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Re: GBARAMATU KINGDOM SAY NO TO THE NAMING OF THE EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE (EPZ) AFTER OGIDIGBEN – THE THREAT TO MY LIFE
Chief (Lt-Col) Satchie E. Ayomike Etoromi (rtd) fss,psc,MBA
“The Seipakumor of Gbaramatu Kingdom”
kantu Town
Gbaramatu Kingdom
Warri South-West L.G.A.
Delta State.
Nigeria
My Ref: SAE/KANTU/P………….
Ogiame Atuwatse II,
The Olu of Warri,
Atuwatse Close GRA,
Warri,
Delta State.
Ogbowuru!
Ekun Kpregede Oson!
Ogiame Suo!
Re: GBARAMATU KINGDOM SAY NO TO THE NAMING OF THE EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE (EPZ) AFTER OGIDIGBEN – THE THREAT TO MY LIFE
I am compelled to draw Your Majesty’s attention to publications in the press on the above subject, especially those in the Vanguard newspaper of 10th June 2014. At page 12 of that publication, Mr Erefoluwa Keka condemned the protest of the Gbaramatu Traditional Council of Chiefs and mentioned my name to ridicule me. At page 51 of the same publication, Chief Ayirimi Emami went into a long tirade, to denounce our efforts to promote genuine friendship and peace in Warri Southwest Local Government Area of Delta State. I do not know Mr Erefoluwa Keka. His insult is out of ignorance. Chief Ayirimi Emami could not have engaged himself this way if he had contacted me. I am approaching Your Majesty because of the ignominious manner this matter has been handled by people who pose or claim to be acting in Itsekiri interest.
The blackmail by some Itsekiri people against me since the Warri crisis which I advised against has been awesome. They could not bring me to the Olu’s Court because they knew they would not be able to substantiate the lies they peddled. They told all who wished to listen in my absence, that “CHIEF COLONEL ETOROMI’’ is the enemy of Itsekiri people. They did not know the things I did for Itsekiri that made Your Majesty invite me to be the first chief you conferred chieftaincy title after your coronation. It is a pity that no one stood for me. I am aware that as part of the blackmail, Itsekiris were told not to give me job, so that I starve to death. I even had to go to court to fight trespassers on my land at Egbokodo-Itsekiri. All these came in the same procession with Your Majesty’s withdrawal of Itsekiri chieftaincy title from me.
Allow me to draw attention to the issue of land acquisition for the Export Processing Zone, Delta State as shown in the Delta State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Development Plan No WA645 dated May 2014, and the Ogidigben claim that all the land belongs to them. The people of Gbaramatu and Ogulagha insist that parts of their land are in the project area. The inclusion of these interests could have solved this problem, but that did not happen. Rather, contemptuous tirades and claim of ownership of all lands in the Warri Southwest Local Government Area rent the air. How come some people say Ijaws have no land in Warri Southwest L.G.A? Do they not know that Gbaramatu clan including Kantu was excised from Forcados District, and merged with the Itsekiri to form a Native Authority when the Urhobos opted out? We must not throw stones into a pool of water and not expect ripples. Recall that when the Delta Steel Company was to be established; its location was given as “Greater Warri”. It took protests before the site name, was changed to Ovwian/Aladja. It is to ensure that there are no such problems in future that the Ijaws in the project area want to be recognized. This will in no way reduce the actual size of Itsekiri interest. They know that the land acquired for the Export Processing Zone spread into areas in Gbaramatu and Ogulagha lands. The fight between factions in Ugborodo people when the Export Processing Zone project started is traceable to the selfish interests of the factional leaders. It is these same leaders who now want to keep away others with genuine interests. The fight in Ugborodo has just abated, we must not allow another violent crisis to erupt. It is no news that it is those who were fighting to project themselves in the EPZ project area, are the one now fanning the embers of war. Those who seek justice must seek equity with clean hands. Blackmailing me, that I am the enemy of the Itsekiri nation because I stand against the ploy to acquire Kantu land surreptitiously does NOT make me an Itsekiri hater. I signed the petition published at page 20 of the Vanguard newspaper of June 6, 2014 because I do not want this matter to escalate into another crisis. KNOW YE NOT THAT IF YOU PROTEST NOT AGAINST INJUSTICE, YOU WOULD BE FURTHERING EVIL?
When some people were dragging Itsekiri people into a war they were not prepared for, my objection led to my being ostracised. The blackmail and threat to my life has been a heavy cross I have borne all these years. When I heard the rumour then, that I shall be killed, I did not take it seriously. They really came after me. I was nearly murdered at Obodo, Warri South Local Government Area. I am informed now that members of an Itsekiri socio-cultural group, held a meeting at Koko, Warri North Local Government Area where they appointed assassins to eliminate me. The utterances of some people tend to confirm this assertion. Now that these rumours are spreading like wildfire, I owe it as a duty to remind Your Majesty that we are both descendants of Miemie of Kantu, Gbaramatu Kingdom. Stop their inflammatory statements and ask them to be less contemptuous, for us to have peace in Warri Southwest Local Government Area.
Chief Ayirimi Emami’s tirade on the Boko Haram insurgency is unfortunate. Gbaramatu Ijaws did not say anything that warranted his vulgar language. His saucy and intemperate language is legendary. His lack of respect for superior authority cast those he represents in bad light. Most of what he said shows he is NOT conversant with the proceedings in various Courts on the cases he cited.
Ogiame, we have only said that all those who have ownership rights in the area where the Export Processing Zone Delta State is sited should be recognized. That is what will ensure peaceful co-existence.
I am happy that I played a role in the negotiations that made Ubeji and Egbokodo-Itsekiri the first Itsekiri communities to resolve a boundary dispute amicably without litigation. I also helped to facilitate the establishment of Egbokodo layout that is a fore runner in Itsekiri land, apart from being the man-friday I was, in what both of us know.
I appeal to Your Majesty to review the proclamation, and call those who are threatening my life to order.
Ogbowuru!
Ekun Kpregede Oson!
Ogiame Suo.
Chief (Lt-Colonel) Satchie Ayomike Etoromi (rtd)
Seipakumor of Gbaramatu Kingdom
