By Charles Pemu 
Itsekiri Youths Elites to Urhobo Renaissance Society:
WARRI, DELTA STATE — An Itsekiri youth socio-political and cultural group, the Itsekiri Youths Elites (IYE), has issued a strongly worded press briefing, vehemently rejecting what it describes as “misleading assertions” by the Urhobo Renaissance Society (URS) concerning the political and traditional ownership of Warri.
The IYE, represented by its Secretary, Eboma Tuoyo Michael, and Public Relations Officer, Toju Ogharanduku, asserted that Warri is non-negotiably the historical and legal capital of the Itsekiri people.
The core of the IYE’s contention lies in the URS’s recent call for a multi-royal dialogue that would include traditional rulers from Okere-Urhobo, Agbarha, and Ogbe-Ijoh. The youth group condemned this suggestion, labeling it a “mischievous call” that attempts to frame Warri in a manner inconsistent with its established origin and territorial integrity.
“Warri, as recognized by colonial, post-colonial, and judicial authorities, is the historic and political capital of the Itsekiri people,” the statement read.
Crucially, the IYE reiterated that His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri, is the singular, sovereign traditional authority over Warri territory. They rejected the notion put forward by the URS that the Olu is merely “one among equals” within the metropolis. According to the group, this authority is backed by both historical fact and multiple Nigerian Supreme Court and judicial validations, which confirm the Itsekiri’s continuous political and cultural leadership over the area for over five centuries.
The statement drew a sharp distinction between shared residency and legal ownership. While acknowledging that migration, urban sprawl, and economic activity have led to “shared residency” in Warri by various ethnic groups, the IYE firmly stated that this does not translate to “shared ownership.” They insisted that areas like Okere Urhobo, Agbarha, and Ogbe-Ijoh remain under the overlordship of the Olu of Warri.
In a poignant reference to past conflicts, the IYE described the 1990s crisis as the result of “provocations, misinformation, and systematic attempts to erase the identity of the Itsekiri people.” They cautioned that attempts to revive those old debates under the guise of peace risk “reigniting old tensions.”
Concluding their briefing, the Itsekiri youth leaders affirmed their commitment to peace and genuine inter-ethnic understanding, but warned that dialogue must be “anchored in truth” and respect for established history and law, not “revisionism or political theatre.” They vowed to resist any attempt to dilute their heritage or question the Itsekiri’s foundational rights to Warri.