August 31, 2024
A coalition of 130 Pan-Yoruba groups, under the umbrella of the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM), has issued a stern warning to the Delta State Government to cease its attempts to diminish the exalted seat of the Olu of Warri.
The groups, which met in Lagos, cautioned that such policies would have far-reaching consequences, including the potential for hostilities in the oil-rich region.
The meeting, attended by over 1,500 delegates, including representatives of South West State Governors, condemned the Delta State Government’s alleged ethnic profiling and anti-Itsekiri policies.
AYDM warned that these actions would lead to a breakdown in peace and stability in the region.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who attended the meeting through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Tunde Rahman, highlighted the improvements in oil production in the Niger-Delta since his administration took office.
He also assured the group that their requests would be presented to him.
AYDM vehemently rejected the creation of rival traditional rulers to undermine the Olu of Warri Kingdom, which has existed since the 15th century. The group stated its unwavering support for the Itsekiri people and their ancestral homeland, vowing to defend them “to the last pint of our blood.”
AYDM called on the Federal Government and the NNPC to withdraw pipeline protection contracts awarded to non-Yoruba and non-Itsekiri individuals, citing concerns about the safety and security of indigenous peoples.
“We have watched these nauseating developments with grave concern. This has the potential of igniting another round of hostilities and armed conflict in the tempestuous Niger Delta,’” AYDM said.
