By Peter Onyekachukwu 
But Peter Onyekachukwu
The Itsekiri Progress Club (IPC) has rejected the call by the Urhobo Renaissance Society (URS) for peace talks among traditional rulers in Warri, insisting that genuine peace can only be achieved through justice and respect for established boundaries.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Tosan Popo, and Secretary, Mr. Godwin Oris Okotie, the group said while the URS appeal appeared well-meaning, it failed to address the root causes of conflict in the Warri area.
“Peace without justice means ignoring important issues, which can only lead to future conflicts,” the statement read.
The IPC alleged attempts by some groups to annex Itsekiri lands and alter historical boundaries, citing ongoing disputes in Warri South and Warri South-West local government areas. It also criticized the creation of the Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, describing it as an “imposition on an aboriginal Itsekiri community.”
The group further condemned what it called efforts to diminish the authority of the Olu of Warri, saying the title has always been tied to the Itsekiri people.
“Warri is not a no man’s land, just as Uvwie, Ughelli, Burutu, and Oghara are not,” the statement added, urging all ethnic groups to respect the state’s ethnic boundary map.
The IPC reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful coexistence but vowed that the Itsekiri would not concede any of their ancestral lands “in the name of peace.”