The Obotie Community has refuted recent claims by the Sapele Okpe and Ugbukurusu communities in Delta State. This follows the release of a government white paper on the report of a judicial panel of enquiry into the Okpe Urhobo (Okpe Sobo) Forest Reserve, which addressed competing claims of ownership.

 

The Obotie Community also condemned what it described as distortions of the exploration area, blackmail, verbal attacks, and name-calling by the Sapele Okpe Community. They view these actions as attempts to disrupt the peaceful resolution process that included visits to the affected areas, during which representatives from the Sapele Okpe Community, Ugbukurusu, and SEPLAT were present. The Obotie leaders dismissed calls for sackings made by Chief Onoriode Temiagin, questioning the relevance of such demands and whether Obotie Community falls within the 5-kilometer radius of the exploration area.

 

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In a statement titled: “Re-press briefing granted by one Chief Onome Temiagin (Chairman, Sapele Okpe Community), one Mr Azan Friday (Chairman, Ugbukurusu Community) and others, crass display of ignorance, hogwash and their unrepentant nature of peddling lies – setting the record straight,” the Obotie leaders asserted that Chief Onoriode Temiagin and others were incorrect in attributing exclusive ownership of the Okpe Sobo Forest Reserve to the Sapele Okpe Community.

The Obotie Community maintains that it was present in the Okpe Sobo Forest Reserve prior to its official designation and is not of Okpe extraction. They cited a 1925 Supreme Court ruling in Muwunum vs Achydoma and Jewiragba & Co vs Jonomi (Suit No MW/452/53) to support their claim to the ownership of Obotie Community.

 

The Obotie leaders accused the Sapele Okpe Community leaders of spreading falsehoods, stating, “It is not in our nature to reply neither is it our character to glorify crass display of ignorance, hogwash, inordinate narrations and unrepentant attitude of lies peddling that were ignobly displayed by Chief Onoriode Temiagin and others but it is charitable to educate members of the public hence it becomes imperative to set the record straight as it concerns the stentorian lies and sinister narratives that were copiously repeated in the said press briefing.”

 

The Itsekiri leaders criticized the Sapele Okpe Community for what they described as unjustifiable and reckless attacks on the Governor’s Special Adviser on peace building and conflict resolution and his team. They stated, “These nefarious actions are not new to us. A typical example is the inability of Ugbukurusu Community to open her defense for more than 14 (fourteen) years in a trespass suit that was filed against her (Ugbukurusu Community) by Obotie Community. Instead, the Ugbukurusu Community has been resorting to physical attacks, trying to make the case to start denovo and other immature displays of technicalities.” They further characterized the Okpe Sapele Community’s behavior as immature and likened it to “a casual blackboard for juvenile graffiti.”

 

The Obotie leaders affirmed their confidence in the Governor’s Special Adviser, stating, “The Special Adviser to the governor have been unbiased and true to an amiable peaceful resolution that represent the true state of things as they affect SEPLAT operations and the impact they have on all impacted communities hence Chief Onoriode Temiagin and his people resorted to playing shenanigans even when the report on the investigation is not yet out.” They also expressed concern about attempts by Okpe leaders to influence SEPLAT’s position, stating, “The Sapele Okpe Community in league with SEPLAT have been hatching and orchestrating all sorts of sinister plans to undermine the Obotie Community from getting her benefits as a community that is impacted by the activities of SEPLAT. SEPLAT has recruited the leadership of the Sapele Okpe Community to frustrate the innocuous and legal claims of Obotie Community hence this kind of ill motivated press briefing that is credited to Chief Onoriode Temiagin and his likes.”

 

The Itsekiri leaders specifically accused the Sapele Okpe Community of spreading falsehoods and questioned their authority to speak for SEPLAT, asking, “Another question that begs for an answer is how did Chief Onoriode Temiagin and his like become spokespersons for SEPLAT that warrants making submission for SEPLAT? Again, these exhibit heinous conspiracy between Sapele Okpe Community and SEPLAT to deprive Obotie Community from her legal rights, privileges and benefits that are accruable to her as her impacted community to SEPLAT operations.”

They also appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for protection against oppression from the Sapele Okpe Community and Sapele Local Government Area leadership, stating, “At this point, we are passionately requesting the protection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori against the oppression of both the leadership of Sapele Okpe Community and that of Sapele.”

 

The Obotie leaders urged the public and Governor Oborevwori to disregard the “ignorable, callous, sinister and reckless narratives and allegations” being circulated by the Sapele Okpe Community. They concluded by asserting their determination to defend their ancestral home, stating, “Just like our ancestors before us, we are determined and in our righteous might, we shall continue to defend the Obotie Community which is our Ancestral Home from the likes of SEPLAT and the Sapele Okpe Community. Chief Onoriode Temiagin subtle threat of war is not new to us as Obotie Community has been a victim of a collective onslaught and aggressions that were poured on our community by premeditated and combined forces of the entire Sapele Okpe Community. The Obotie Community survived it and we will continue to defend the Obotie Community with legal means within the ambit of the law. These ignoble calls that are credited to Chief Onoriode Temiagin and his group of warmongers bring to mind the judgement of king Solomon as it concerns the biblical story of the two women laying claims to a living baby as posted in 1 Kings 3: 16-28. Chief Onoriode Temiagin and others have forgotten that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is a governor of, by and for all Deltans and not a governor for, by and of the Okpe people. Chief Onoriode Temiagin lacks the capacity to drag the exalted Office of Governor of Delta State into petty tribal/ethnic tension as the Governor is a father of all Deltans and all tribes in Delta State. We are confident that His Excellency Governor Sheriff Oborevwori will not act on the utterance of Chief Onoriode Temiagin and his likes who are behaving like football players who are anticipating defect to a stronger team”, the statement added.