Egbema youth council Slams Delta state Government Over False publication, Demands Proper Recognition for Agadagba of Egbema kingdom,

EGBEMA YOUTH COUNCIL (EYC) WORLDWIDE CONDEMNS DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION FOR DISTORTING FACTS, DEMANDS DUE RECOGNITION FOR AGADAGBA OF EGBEMA KINGDOM,

By EgbemaVoice,

The Egbema Youth Council (EYC) Worldwide has strongly condemned the recent publication by the Delta State Government through its Delta Spotlight project, describing it as a deliberate distortion of facts and an insult to the identity of the Egbema Ijaws, who are the predominant occupants of Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

In a statement jointly signed by Barr. Amatelemowei A. Sode, President General (PG) of the EYC Worldwide, and Comrade Gift Erin-Ebimi, General Secretary, the group expressed deep dismay that the publication accorded overwhelming recognition to the Itsekiri monarchy while downgrading the revered Agadagba of Egbema Kingdom—the traditional ruler of the Ijaw people in the area—to the status of a mere clan head.

This is not only a gross misrepresentation but also an affront to the dignity and history of the Egbema Ijaws, who constitute the majority in Warri North LGA. The attempt to rewrite history and portray the Itsekiri minority as the dominant group in the area is a dangerous aberration,” the statement read.

The EYC drew the attention of the Delta State Government to the recent Supreme Court judgment on the Warri Federal Constituency, which addressed issues of ward and polling unit delineation, reaffirming the demographic reality that Egbema Ijaws are the predominant occupants of Warri North LGA.

This fact, the group emphasized, was further validated during the recent ward delineation exercise, which clearly established the majority presence of the Ijaws. Any publication or official documentation that ignores this reality, according to the EYC, amounts to “an attempt to erase an entire people from their rightful place in history.”

The Council pointed out that even within a single Egbema community are more than the entire Itsekiri population in Warri North,” the EYC noted.

This position, they added, aligns with a public statement by Itsekiri statesman Amaju Pinnick, who admitted that “the entire Itsekiri nation is less than one million people.”

The EYC expressed disappointment that the Delta State Government—under whose supervision such publications are sanctioned—appears either ignorant or dismissive of the true ethnic composition of Warri North.

It is shameful that the government of the day would fail in its basic responsibility to recognize the rightful ethnic groups in its local government areas. Instead, accolades are being heaped on the minority Itsekiri, while the Ijaw majority are sidelined. This selective recognition is unacceptable,” said Barr. Sode.

At the heart of the Egbema youth council grievance is the attempt to diminish the authority of the Agadagba of Egbema Kingdom. The group firmly stated that the Agadagba remains the traditional and spiritual head of the Ijaws in Warri North, custodian of their history and culture, and cannot under any circumstance be relegated to the status of a clan head.

The EYC described the distortion as an insult not only to the Egbema Ijaws but also to the principles of justice, equity, and inclusivity which Delta State claims to uphold.

Call for Correction and Inclusivity' The EYC therefore called on the Delta State Government and the handlers of the Delta Spotlight project to:

1. Issue an immediate correction acknowledging the Agadagba of Egbema Kingdom as the monarch of the Ijaw people in Warri North.

2. Revisit the publication to reflect the true demographic and cultural balance of Warri North.

3. Ensure equity and inclusivity in future publications to promote peace, fairness, and cultural harmony among all ethnic nationalities in the state.

While reaffirming its commitment to peace and unity in Delta State, the EYC warned that continued attempts to distort history and misrepresent facts about the Ijaws in Warri North will be resisted by every legitimate means.

We are not asking for special favors. We are only demanding fairness, truth, and respect for our history. The Agadagba of Egbema Kingdom must be duly recognized, and the Ijaw majority in Warri North must no longer be treated as if they are invisible,” the statement concluded.

Signed:

Barr. Amatelemowei A. Sode

President General (PG),

Egbema Youth Council (EYC) Worldwide

Comr. Gift Erin-Ebimi

General Secretary,

Egbema Youth Council (EYC) Worldwide