- The Core Issue: Ethnic dominance and political power struggles.
- INEC’s Role: Failure to implement Supreme Court ruling on electoral delineation.
- Otuaro’s Stance: Truth, justice, and fair electoral boundaries are the only way forward.
- Historical Context: A long-standing narrative of Itsekiri overlordship.
- Constitutional Violations: Electoral ward delineation based on population is being ignored.
The Deep Roots of the Warri Crisis
According to Otuaro, the Warri crisis is a complex issue rooted in historical ethnic dominance struggles. The Itsekiri establishment has long maintained that Warri North, Warri South, and Warri Southwest are part of their homeland, with Ijaws and Urhobos seen as settlers. This narrative fuels resistance to any political arrangement that doesn’t favor the Itsekiri.
“Any democratic arrangement that does not allow the Itsekiri to have political dominance… is a fool’s paradise,” Otuaro stated, highlighting the core of the problem. Understanding these deep-seated issues is crucial for finding lasting solutions.
INEC’s Failure: A Supreme Court Order Ignored?
The Supreme Court has already ruled that INEC should discard the old ward arrangement in Warri Federal Constituency and conduct a fresh delineation based on population. However, this decision has yet to be implemented, exacerbating tensions among the Ijaw, Urhobo, and Itsekiri ethnic groups.
Otuaro emphasized that Sections 49, 72, and 75 of the Nigerian Constitution demand electoral ward delineation based on population for fair democratic representation. He claims the current arrangement in Warri is a “flagrant abuse” of this principle.
Examples of Electoral Imbalance
Otuaro provided stark examples of this imbalance:
- Oporoza, with a population of about 3,200 in 2001, had only nine polling units.
- Another community with just 1,100 people had 46 polling units.
These disparities, he argues, defy both fairness and constitutional provisions.
Historical Peace Initiatives: A Waste of Effort?
Numerous peace initiatives have been launched in the past, but government institutions have failed to act on their findings and recommendations. Otuaro highlighted efforts by Justice Anene Arau in 1993, General Theophilus Danjuma in 2003, and Governor Ibori, all of which were resisted, primarily by the Itsekiri establishment.
“Government agencies have lacked the will to implement the reports,” Otuaro lamented.
The Path to Sustainable Peace: Structural Changes?
Otuaro believes that structural changes are necessary for achieving lasting peace in Warri. He suggests granting some level of autonomy to the Urhobo, Ijaw, and Itsekiri in the three local government areas.
“The problems are existential. It is only when you have some level of autonomy… that you can truly have lasting peace,” he concluded.
The Way Forward: A Call for Honest Dialogue
Otuaro’s message is clear: lasting peace in Warri requires truth, justice, and fair electoral delineation. It’s time to confront the root causes of the conflict with honest dialogue and a commitment to implementing the Supreme Court ruling.
What’s Next?
The future of Warri hangs in the balance. Will government institutions finally act on past recommendations? Can the ethnic groups find a way to coexist peacefully with equitable representation? Only time will tell.
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